Andanar urges media to work with gov’t to fight ‘fake news’

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Sunday called on the media to continuously work with the government to prevent the spread of "fake news" and misinformation amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a statement on World Press Freedom Day, Andanar underscored the important role of the free press to keep the public informed in the face of the threat of COVID-19 and even if their lives are at risk.

"With the current COVID-19 pandemic, press freedom has allowed for the continued delivery of news and reports to all Filipino households. It has also helped voice out the public's pulse and serve as an avenue for the government to increase public awareness of its policies and report its activities with complete transparency," he said.

"Without an open and free press, there will be an intellectual vacuum on public information and government programs and services, and there will be no dialogue on societal issues, public grievances, and government policies," he added.

Andanar also said that the Duterte administration has worked to protect and maintain a good relationship with the media, believing that accurate and truthful information can be accessed through continuous engagement among the government, the press, and the civil society.

Despite these words, President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies have frequently lashed out at the media, accusing it of pushing fake news and attacking news and broadcasting entities such as Rappler and ABS-CBN. 

Andanar added that the government has put in place several measures to ensure that freedom of the press is well protected, such as the executive order on freedom of information, the creation of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, and the expansion of the Sotto Law.

The expanded Sotto Law maintains that media practitioners may only be compelled to reveal their source of information when the court, the House of Representatives, the Senate, or any committee of Congress finds that such revelation is demanded by the "security of the state."

"Let us work together as well, to eradicate biased information, misinformation, disinformation and fake news that continue to damage not only our society, but the trust and the relationship between the government and the people, a relationship that must be maintained in order for our society to function as a whole," Andanar said.

"With these in mind, we pray for the safety of everyone, especially the journalists and media workers currently reporting from the frontlines despite the pandemic. We salute your heroism, bravery, and your service," he added. — Erwin Colcol/BM, GMA News