Malacañang on Tuesday warned the public against the spread of false information following the arrest of former broadcaster Jay Sonza over cyberlibel charges.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro urged the public not to profit from falsehoods, stressing that the law will be enforced against those who deliberately spread misinformation.

“Sa mga gumagawa ng krimen, hindi kayo sasantuhin ng batas. Huhusgahan kayo ng katotohanan,” Castro said.

“Huwag pagkakitaan ang fake news, katotohanan lang ang inyong ibigay. At hindi kayo nakakatulong sa ekonomiya,” she added.

To recall, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Sonza on April 30 in connection with cyberlibel complaints linked to the alleged dissemination of false claims about the health of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Earlier, on April 17, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said cases had already been filed against several personalities, including Jeffrey Celis, Sonza, and Jack Argota. They were accused of fabricating a medical document, allegedly from St. Luke’s Medical Center, claiming that the president was ill.

Meanwhile, on April 15, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), through its Anti-Fake News Desk, endorsed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the investigation and possible filing of charges against three Facebook accounts for allegedly spreading fabricated claims about the president’s health.

The PCO earlier emphasized that the deliberate spread of false information violates Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, with heavier penalties when committed online under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.