Let’s put a stop to fake news, Tagle rallies faithful on Maundy Thursday

Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle on Maundy Thursday slammed the continued spread of fake news as he urged the public to fight "manipulative strategies" that benefit political interests.

"Let us put a stop to fake news! We are not called and consecrated to bring fake news, only Good News, especially through the integrity of our lives," said Tagle in his homily during Chrism Mass at the Manila Cathedral.

Tagle said spreading false information goes against God's call for his people to uphold their mission of evangelization. "Evangelization is about Good News, not fake news," he said.

Evangelization, Tagle said, challenges the faithful to communicate the truth about God's love, especially to the poor.

He also expressed sadness that the modern means of communication have been "reduced" to strategies to manipulate people.

"Manipulation thrives in the context of disrespect," Tagle said. "That's why fake news proliferates... deliberately deceiving people."

It was the second time Tagle publicly criticized fake news after last year's Philippine Conference on New Evangelization, where he lashed out at makers of bogus news who "no longer value the truth."

Though Tagle did not mention names, critics of the Duterte administration have accused several government officials of spreading fake news online, to the point where presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said government people should not be singled out for fake news.

"It is infringing on equal protection when you are singling out government employees," he said  during a Senate hearing on fake news on March 15.

"There is no basis for singling out government employees because the law should apply to all not just to government employees."

Roque said determining fake news should be left to the people. --KBK, GMA News