The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is set to file charges against a Facebook page accused of spreading false information that triggered public fear and confusion amid the country’s energy situation.

PCO Acting Secretary Dave Gomez said complaints are being prepared against the administrators of “Malasakit News Pilipinas,” following a directive from President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. The agency has coordinated with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the page and identify those responsible.

Among the flagged posts were fabricated claims of an “energy lockdown,” a nationwide “fuel shortage,” and a supposed “COVID-19 cicada variant lockdown,” all of which authorities said were entirely false and designed to sow panic.

The PCO is urging the DOJ to pursue charges under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which penalize the spread of false information, especially on digital platforms.

Officials warned that monitoring of social media will be intensified as part of the government’s broader campaign against disinformation, emphasizing the need to protect the public and ensure access to accurate and reliable information during critical situations.