ILOILO City – An Iloilo-born vlogger based abroad is among those facing possible criminal prosecution as part of a broader, coordinated government effort to hold “fake news peddlers” accountable.
The crackdown on online disinformation is being stepped up, with authorities now moving beyond warnings and into legal action, said Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Clarissa “Claire” Castro during a press briefing at the RDC Hall of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Regional Office 6 here on Friday.
“She can be held liable for damages. She can be held liable for cyber libel. She can also be held liable for utterances of fake news that disrupt public order,” Castro said.
The vlogger being referred to was Jinky Avelino Miraflores Carpio, also known online as “Iloy Bugris”. Her case has been endorsed for further investigation.
But Castro stressed that the crackdown does not infringe on freedom of expression, drawing a clear line between protected speech and harmful disinformation.
“We are talking about fake news. We are not pertaining to anybody’s freedom of expression. Hindi po iyon ang pinipigilan natin,” Castro explained.
Currently based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Castro faces possible charges for peddling false claims — particularly those targeting the health of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Castro said authorities are no longer inclined to issue mere warnings to those deliberately spreading fake news.
“Kung ano man ang kanilang ginagawa, they should face the consequences,” Castro said. “Unang-una, kung gumagamit naman tayo ng kaisipan, ang mga fake news peddlers ay hindi na dapat ito wina-warningan. Alam naman nila na mali ang kanilang ginagawa. So, warning, hindi ito ang nararapat na salita para sa kanila.”
Aside from Carpio, the Presidential Communications Office has endorsed two other vloggers for further investigation, a move that could pave the way for formal charges.
“If there will be a case to be filed against them, then they should be held liable for that,” Castro stressed.
The PCO, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DITC), and Department of Justice recently forged an agreement to strengthen coordination against fake news, including AI-generated deepfakes.
Under the pact — signed by PCO Acting Secretary Dave M. Gomez, DICT Secretary Henry R. Aguda, and Acting Justice Secretary Frederick A. Vida — the government adopts a whole-of-government strategy to curb disinformation that could undermine public safety and national security.
Gomez underscored the urgency of the initiative, warning, “We are confronting a rapidly evolving information landscape where truth is increasingly vulnerable to distortion and manipulation.”/PN
