House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III backed the inclusion of the Anti-Disinformation Bill in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority measures to combat the spread of digital disinformation. Dy emphasized the importance of having such laws to protect Filipinos from the dangers of fake news.
Moreover, the House Speaker expressed disappointment in how false information is used as a weapon to erode public trust and influence voters’ opinions and electoral outcomes, RH Milky Rigonan reported.
"Ginagamit ito ng iba upang pagmulan ng pagkasira ng tiwala ng publiko, impluwensyahan ang pagboto sa halalan, at panghimasukan ang seguridad ng ating bansa,” Dy stressed.
Beyond political implications, the House Speaker also highlighted its harmful impacts on the youth, specifically on children’s mental health, social development, and belief formation.
“Nakakalungkot at nakakabahala pa. Nagdudulot ito ng masamang epekto sa kabataan. Fake news damages children’s mental health, affects their social growth, twists their beliefs, and targets their inherent weaknesses,” he said.
House Bill No. 2697, or the Anti-Disinformation measure, is authored by House Majority Leader Ferdinand “Sandro” Marcos. It seeks to establish a comprehensive legal framework to combat fake news and digital disinformation while upholding constitutional guarantees on free expression, the House of Representatives said.
The measure also addresses gaps in existing laws like the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and provisions of the Revised Penal Code. Lawmakers have previously stated that the said laws do not fully capture the scale and level of harm caused by modern technology, particularly by the spread of disinformation.
Dy appealed for the elevation of the said measure to LEDAC priority status, emphasizing swift and coordinated action by both chambers of Congress.
"Hiling po namin na maisama ang Anti-Disinformation Bill sa ating mga priority measures dahil kailangan na kailangan nating magsulong ng mga konkretong hakbang upang ang bawat Pilipino ay maproteksyunan laban sa organisadong panloloko,” Dy said.
