Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Members of the House of Representatives gather at Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City for the scheduled plenary discussion of the Articles of Impeachment filed against Vice President  Sara Duterte on May 11, 2026.   Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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VP SARA IMPEACHMENT

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — A measure that the House of Representatives passed to curb online disinformation and dismantle “troll farms” has drawn concerns that it could be used to suppress free expression and legitimate criticism. The House approved House Bill No. 9465, or the Digital Media Anti-False Information Act, on third and final reading last Wednesday with 286 affirmative votes, three negative votes, and seven abstentions. Among those who abstained was Mamamayang Liberal Party-List Rep. Leila De Lima.“I cannot vote &#x27;no&#x27; to this bill because disinformation is a real and urgent threat,&quot; she said Wednesday as she explained her abstention.&quot;We have witnessed its destructive power in our own country. False medical advice has endangered lives. Troll farms and bot networks deliberately manipulate public discourse and sow distrust. Coordinated campaigns spread election misinformation, undermine public health efforts, and corrode the common factual ground democracy depends upon.&quot; De Lima, who has long been the subject of online disinformation campaigns, said she understands the need for government action against fake news and coordinated online manipulation.However, she said she could not vote in favor of the measure because of how its provisions could be interpreted and enforced.&quot;Perhaps more dangerous than what this bill explicitly permits is what it prevents,&quot; De Lima said.&quot;This bill could silence not just disinformation but also legitimate political opposition, civil society advocacy, and independent journalism,” De Lima added.The measure seeks to penalize the publication, dissemination, financing, or material assistance in spreading false information online and imposes new obligations on digital platforms operating in the Philippines.Violators may face a proposed penalty of six to 12 years imprisonment, a fine of P500,000 to P2 million, or both.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/3/house-oks-anti-false-information-kalinga-bills-1934">House OKs Anti-False Information, KALINGA bills</a></div>The bill explicitly exempts political opinions, criticism of government, criticism of public officials or candidates, satire, journalistic inquiry, investigative reporting, editorial judgment, whistleblowing, public interest advocacy, commentary, opinion, academic discourse, and artistic and religious expression.De Lima said lawmakers still have an opportunity to craft legislation that effectively addresses disinformation while providing stronger protections for freedom of expression and press freedom.“We can write a disinformation law that is both strong and safe, strong in protecting truth, safe in protecting liberty. We can provide safe harbors for free speech and the press in a way that is unambiguous. We can craft legislation that civil society can endorse and that the international community can respect,” De Lima said.Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos is the bill&#x27;s principal author.<div> </div><div>&#x27;VAGUE WORDING, HEAVY PENALTIES&#x27;</div>A media organizations and a rights watchdog have also questioned whether the measure strikes the proper balance between combating harmful falsehoods and protecting civil liberties.Alternative media network AlterMidya said the proposal grants the government broad authority to determine what constitutes false information, raising the risk of censorship and abuse..“As lawmakers from the Makabayan Bloc have warned, such a measure risks creating a chilling effect, where fear of criminal prosecution discourages people from speaking critically on urgent social and political issues,” the network said in a statement this week.AlterMidya also criticized what it described as the rushed passage of the bill, which was approved on second reading after limited debate.The network argued that exemptions in the bill covering journalism, satire, and good-faith mistakes may not be sufficient safeguards against potential misuse.“It is especially dangerous in the current political climate where state agencies and powerful and moneyed interests have repeatedly weaponized laws against critics and independent media,” the organization said.Citing how the government has implemented laws meant to penalize terrorism, it said “vague and broadly worded legislation has often been used selectively.&quot; They said the bill, if passed into law, could be used against &quot;those who actually expose corruption, abuse, and state repression.&quot;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/26/court-rules-ntc-blocking-of-bulatlat-other-sites-violates-free-speech-1936">Court rules NTC blocking of Bulatlat, other sites violates free speech </a></div>US-headquartered Human Rights Watch has also urged lawmakers to withdraw the measure because of its “vague and overbroad framing of prohibited acts that constitute false information and the imposition of long prison sentences.”The organization warned that provisions criminalizing the dissemination of false information that causes &quot;verifiable public harm&quot; or poses a threat to national security could potentially be used against criticism of government actions and policies.“The draft law would make it a criminal offense to disseminate false information with actual knowledge of its falsity or reckless disregard for its truth, and with specific intent to cause verifiable public harm or a serious threat to national security,” it said. Human Rights Watch also raised concerns about provisions requiring digital platforms to coordinate with government authorities on content moderation and takedown requests, as well as requirements related to platform data access and oversight.Despite her reservations, De Lima stressed that addressing disinformation remains a legitimate and urgent policy objective.&quot;The Philippines has an opportunity to show the world, and to show ourselves, that we can fight disinformation without surrendering democracy, that we can protect truth without weaponizing the law,&quot; she said.“We need not choose between security and freedom. We can have both. But only if we have the patience to craft legislation worthy of our democratic ideals,” she added.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/4/15/dict-urges-filipinos-to-report-fake-news-posts-immediately-1606">DICT urges Filipinos to report fake news posts immediately</a></div>

A measure that the House of Representatives passed to curb online disinformation and dismantle “troll farms” has drawn concerns that it could be used to suppress free expression and legitimate criticism.

A measure that the House of Representatives passed to curb online disinformation and dismantle “troll farms” has drawn concerns that it could be used to suppress free expression and legitimate criticism.

House anti-'fake news' bill draws free speech concerns

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House anti-'fake news' bill draws free speech concerns

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 05, 2026 03:54 PM PHT

Read More:

Anti-Fake News

Disinformation

Leila De Lima

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