President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday urged Filipinos to trust information sources from the government to avoid falling victim to fake news online.
In a “Talk to the People” address, Duterte lamented how fake news had caused “panic and hatred” among Filipinos.
“With the advent of the new gadgets available in the hands of the ordinary person, he can also participate in the social order making news available or whatever there is — whatever there is a need for somebody or everybody to know. Ang problema kasi itong false news,” he said.
“It can spread immediately and […] the problem is may mga taong naniniwala,” he added.
The president also claimed government enemies such as the Communist Party of the Philippines had been feeding the public lies.
Duterte said people should listen to government officials such as Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire and acting Palace spokesman Martin Andanar.
“Kaya itong ‘Talk to the People’ para malaman ninyo kung ano ‘yung policy, ano ‘yung ginagawa namin at totoo ba itong mga balita kagaya niyang mga expire ‘yung vaccine na itatapon na lang,” he said.
However, Duterte himself has used his airtime to blabber fake news about the pandemic and his critics. John Ezekiel J. Hirro