PCOO to protest Facebook team-up with Rappler, Vera Files

MANILA - The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) will oppose Facebook's move to tap media organizations Rappler and Vera Files to fact-check websites sharing erroneous content, an official said Monday.

PCOO Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy said her office lauds the social media giant for its efforts to battle fake news but added: "We would also like to register our protest at the choice of fact-checkers by Facebook."

The issue, she said, will be on the agenda when the PCOO meets with Facebook representatives "soon."

Asec Loraine Badoy: PCOO protests Facebook’s choice of Rappler and Vera Files as fact-checkers | via @pia_gutierrez pic.twitter.com/t4GhLJq30a

— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) April 16, 2018

Rappler and Vera Files had earned flak from President Rodrigo Duterte's supporters for running stories critical of the government.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the 2 media outlets "are sometimes partisan themselves."

Roque said Facebook users who are unhappy with the social network's decision should make their issues heard on the platform.

Asked about the call of gaming regulator Jimmy Bondoc to leave Facebook and shift to Russian-based online social network VK.com, Roque said: "That is a free market place of ideas...My advice is for the Facebook users to make their wishes known to Facebook and of course, the possibility of shifting is always there.'

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