Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775541048955HFR5tembwAA0DtU.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">PCO chief Dave Gomez files a complaint against administrators of a Facebook page that allegedly posted false information about a supposed energy lockdown. Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Dave Gomez on Tuesday filed complaints against alleged fake news peddlers spreading disinformation on the energy situation in the country. </p><p>Gomez lodged the complaint against those behind the Facebook page “Malasakit News Pilipinas” which had allegedly posted false information about a supposed energy lockdown.  </p><p>The Palace earlier warned that those fabricating stories about the declared &quot;national energy emergency&quot; would be<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/5/palace-warns-of-charges-for-spreading-fake-news-on-energy-crisis-1336"> &quot;held to account to the fullest extent of the law.&quot;</a></p><p>&quot;Today, upon the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the Presidential Communications Office is giving teeth to our warning,&quot; Gomez said.</p><p>&quot;We are asking the Department of Justice to investigate at least three fake news posts, determine the people who fabricated them, and bring them to court, in behalf of the Filipino people to answer the harm that they have caused the public,&quot; he added.</p><p>The three social media posts cited by Gomez included a fabricated energy lockdown designed to scam the public into buying solar panels, a manufactured fuel shortage meant to sow panic by inducing the public to stock up on gasoline, diesel and LPG, and an invented lockdown on account of an imagined COVID-19 variant. </p><p>Gomez said these posts &quot;are blatant lies and fabrications that fall under the definition of false news, the publication of which is a crime punishable by up to 6-month imprisonment under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code.&quot;</p><p>&quot;And because it is committed online, the penalty is higher because of the Cybercrime Prevention Act,&quot; the PCO chief added.</p><p>Gomez said they are yet to identify the people behind the Facebook page.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1589045835485265%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </span></div><div><strong>MARCOS HEALTH</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>He added that they would also file complaints against those spreading false information regarding the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s family. </p><p>On Monday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/6/marcos-jr-definitely-in-good-health-palace-says-after-critics-allege-recycled-easter-photo-1517">denied allegations that the President was sick.</a></p><p>Gomez said they were intensifying efforts to counter false narratives.</p><p>&quot;These fake news posts were flagged by our PCO Anti-Fake News desk which we set up following our Oplan Kontra Fake News last month,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;We are submitting to the DOJ the result of our initial investigation so that they can conduct a thorough probe, identify the culprit, and file proper charges in court,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/7/-buwitre-obstructionists-palace-to-sue-vultures-spreading-fake-news-about-president-s-health-1349">&#x27;Buwitre, obstructionists&#x27;: Palace to sue &#x27;vultures&#x27; spreading fake news about President&#x27;s health</a></div><p>The PCO chief reminded social media users to be cautious of what they post online, saying they will go after people who deliberately spread disinformation.</p><p>&quot;We will not let you go away with the crime. We will go after you and hold you into account. We are intensifying monitoring of social media and information ecosystems to detect and counter deliberate disinformation campaigns,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Our ultimate obligation is to safeguard the stability of energy supply, protect consumers, and uphold the public&#x27;s right to true and accurate information,&quot; he added.</p><p>The Philippines has seen the cost of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/6/diesel-to-post-double-digit-hikes-again-on-tuesday-1506">diesel</a>, used in almost all public transport, jump by nearly 60 percent since treaty ally the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, with Tehran blocking the vital Strait of Hormuz to traffic since.</p><p>The past month has seen the Philippines open supply chains with non-traditional partners like <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/30/petron-secures-2-5-million-barrels-of-russian-crude-1058">Russia </a>to secure desperately needed oil, while instituting measures ranging from cash handouts for transport workers to a four-day work week for civil servants.</p><p>Manila last week said a &quot;productive phone conversation&quot; between Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro and her Iranian counterpart had seen Tehran pledge to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/2/dfa-iran-to-allow-safe-passage-of-ph-flagged-ships-seafarers-through-strait-of-hormuz-1726">allow safe passage</a> through the strait for shipments of oil bound for the Philippines.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse </strong></div>

<p>Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez on Tuesday filed complaints against alleged fake news peddlers spreading disinformation on the energy situation in the country. </p>

Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez on Tuesday filed complaints against alleged fake news peddlers spreading disinformation on the energy situation in the country.

Palace official files complaint vs ‘energy lockdown’ fake news peddlers

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Palace official files complaint vs ‘energy lockdown’ fake news peddlers

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 07, 2026 01:53 PM PHT

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Updated April 07, 2026 03:04 PM PHT

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fake news

energy crisis

energy lockdown

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