Lawmaker: Marcos Jr. must certify as urgent bills on disinformation, misinformation

MANILA – A lawmaker hopes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will certify as urgent measures that seek to penalize the spread of disinformation and misinformation on social media.

House Committee on Public Order and Safety Chairperson and Santa Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez made the remark during the final hearing of the House Tri Committee on Thursday.

Fernandez acknowledged the lack of time to pass such legislation, since the 19th Congress will adjourn on June 13.

"As a matter of fact chairman we are going to file bills regarding that, so I think the members of this House will be given that copy as well.  I hope the President through Secretary [Jay] Ruiz, well, we cannot do this during the 19th Congress. But I think the President must certify [as] urgent yung mga bills that the 20th Congress will be filing," he said.

"Kailangan na dito talaga ng intervention ng Presidente na mapabilis yung batas na yun.  And I think mga one year din yan bago natin maaprubahan sa 20th Congress," Fernandez added.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz warned the House panel of the possible adverse effects on the public of the spread of disinformation and false content on social media in the absence of a law.

"In the last elections, many public servants, yung mga iba kasi ilang buwan o ilang taon ang preparation na kakasira at kakasira ng pulitiko. Yun lang ang ginamit nila, disinformation, misinformation, at fake news laban sa kandidato," Ruiz explained.

"Papaano kung ang tao, bine-base niya ang desisyon niya sa mga fake news o kasinungalingan?" he asked.

The PCO chief believes Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 is not enough to specifically combat disinformation and misinformation, unlike laws in Singapore and the European Union.

House Committee on Information and Communications Technology Vice Chairperson and Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel said the remarks of Ruiz prove there is a need for legislation.

"Actually Mister Chair that is precisely the reason why we are here is to legislate a law that would really combat fake news," he said.

"Eh ang pina-request lang natin sa kanila is self-regulation. However sabi ko nga hindi tayo pinapakinggan," Pimentel added.  

FRANCHISE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS?

Pimentel renewed earlier proposals for social media platforms to secure a franchise from Congress, zeroing in on Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.  

Ruiz earlier shared experience when Meta did not take down a supposedly fake memorandum on its platforms.

"Sinabi ko sa CICC, national security concern ito. Pwede bang sabihin mo yung mga platforms tanggalin agad-agad yung memo na yan dahil fake news. Hindi nila tinanggal. Ang reason ng mga platforms, ito freedom of expression at may community standards kami," he said.

"I totally agree with the observation of Secretary Jay that we are at the mercy of Meta Platforms. Isipin niyo po Mister Chair, yung gobyerno na natin ang nag-request sa Meta Platforms to take down the fake news of that memorandum that was issued purportedly by ES Bersamin. Eh hindi nga sila nakinig sa inyo eh," Pimentel said.

The lawmaker said Congress can exercise its oversight function, if platforms like Meta cannot self-regulate and curb disinformation and misinformation.

"It’s about time siguro if they cannot have self-regulation, it must be this government, this administration, tayo ang mag-regulate sa kanila.  And that is why Mister Chair I think we should really study. I don’t know if it is possible that we should require this Meta to get a franchise from Congress for them to operate here," Pimentel said.

Meta representatives were not in attendance during the final Tri Committee hearing. But in a previous inquiry, it said it remains 'a neutral platform' and relies on third-party fact-checkers when it comes to disinformation and misinformation.

Last May, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez filed House Bill No. 11506 or the proposed Anti-Fake News and Disinformation Act. It aims to penalize the dissemination of 'fake news' and disinformation, which may endanger public safety and threaten national security.

Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman filed on Monday House Bill No. 11515 or the proposed Digital Media Integrity and Platform Accountability Act of 2025. The measure seeks to recognize the Digital Media Standards Coalition, which will set standards and a code of ethics for digital media use.