By Jose Cielito Reganit
MANILA – Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday called for an end to the dissemination of fake news, stressing that misinformation only undermines efforts to address the country’s real problems.
“Sa mga nagtatanim ng pagdududa sa isip ng taumbayan, nakikiusap kami na itigil ninyo na ang pagpapakalat ng fake news dahil hindi ito nakakatulong sa pagresolba sa mga problema ng ating bayan (To those who sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of the people, we call upon you to stop spreading fake news because this does not help in resolving the problems faced by our country),” Dy said in his address on the resumption of sessions at the House of Representatives.
The Speaker emphasized that the House remains focused on its mandate, guided by accountability to the Filipino people.
“Wala po kaming ibang hangarin kundi makapaglingkod, at gawin ang aming mga responsibilidad dito sa Kamara. Gagawin namin ang aming mandato at tungkulin nang makatarungan at tapat sapagkat naniniwala kaming walang anumang katumbas ang prinsipyo at dangal (we have no other aspiration except to serve and do our responsibilities in the House. We will perform our mandate and duties fairly and honestly because we believe that principle and integrity are unparalleled),” he said.
Dy also emphasized that every action taken by the House is anchored on the welfare of the public and their constitutional duty to push for transparency and accountability in government.
“Sa bawat desisyon, iisa lang ang aming gabay: ang aming pananagutan sa inyo at sa buong bayan (In every decision, we are guided only by our responsibility to you and our country) — our oath to uphold the welfare of our people and to ensure transparency and accountability in government,” he said.
House probe vs. PGMN disinformation ops
Meanwhile, Rep. Terry Ridon filed House Resolution No. 980 directing a congressional inquiry into alleged disinformation operations of Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN), also calling for closer scrutiny of its tax compliance and possible tax evasion.
In a media interview, Ridon said the resolution directly supports Dy’s call to confront fake news, but goes further by targeting the structure, operations and financial accountability of entities engaged in organized disinformation.
“This is in full support of the Speaker’s fight against fake news – but we must go beyond content and examine the operations behind it, including how these are funded and whether they are compliant with tax laws,” he said.
The lawmaker stressed that the inquiry will not only address misleading content but also the business and financial activities of those behind such operations, including owners, partners and affiliated entities.
“If these disinformation operations are monetized – and there are strong indications that they are – then the question is simple: are they properly declared, taxed, and regulated? Otherwise, this raises serious concerns of tax evasion,” Ridon said.
The resolution cites viral content attributed to PGMN that purportedly shows a surge in electricity bills, which, upon closer examination, featured different Customer Account Numbers (CANs), raising serious concerns about deliberate misrepresentation.
“For ordinary Filipino households already burdened by high electricity costs, this is not just irresponsible, it is deceptive,” he said. “Real issues should not be exploited through fabricated or misleading content.”
Ridon emphasized that the inquiry will also determine whether such activities form part of organized and systematic disinformation operations designed to manipulate public perception of critical national issues.
The resolution calls for coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Internal Revenue and other relevant agencies to determine possible violations of law, including those relating to disinformation, unlawful business practices and tax compliance. (PNA)
