New PCO chief Chavez wants fact-check officers in gov't media

Newly designated Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cesar Chavez on Thursday said he wants government media agencies to have a fact-check officer in order to combat the spread of false information.

In an interview with Palace reporters after his oath taking before President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Chavez stressed that those in government should not peddle fake news.

"Ang tingin ko ay may [responsibilidad] ang mga taga-gobyerno na huwag maging instrumento at huwag maglalako ng fake news. At the same time, hindi lang ito obligasyon ng mga taga-gobyerno, pati ng nasa kabilang side... lalong-lalo na ang panawagan natin doon sa mga may malawak na pag-iisip, sa loob ng gobyerno, sa labas ng gobyerno na may responsibilidad sila na patatagin ang Republikang ito nang hindi maglalako ng fake news," he said.

(I think those in government have the  [responsibility] not to be peddlers and instruments of fake news. At the same time, this isn't just the obligation of people in government, but also of those on the other side... especially now that our call is a wider perspective within and outside the bureaucracy, they have the responsibility of strengthening the Republic without spreading fake news.)

Now that he is in charge of leading the communications arm of the President, Chavez said he wants state-run media entities to have a fact-check officer to easily determine fake news.

"All state media, sa probinsiya, sa regional, bureaus, PNA (Philippine News Agency), PIA (Philippine Information Agency), PTV 4, IBC, Philippine News Agency, to designate a fact-check officer para kami mismo ay hindi maging tagapaglako, tagapagtaguyod at di rin kami maging instrumento but at the same time, 'pag may nakita kami na fake na fake, there is a process of checking kung papaano makikita na fake ang balita o hindi... mamarkahan agad namin," he said.

(All state media, in the provicial and regional levels, bureaus, PNA, PIA, PTV 4, IBC, Philippine News Agency, to designate a fact-check officer so that we would not end up peddling, supporting, or becoming an instrument for fake news. At the same time, if we spot something that is truly fake, there is a process of checking legitimate news from the fake.)

The new PCO chief vowed to focus on eradicating fake news in Philippine society.

Chavez shared that as early as August 2022, he was offered the post but he chose to serve in the Department of Transportation.

Last December, the PCO announced that Marcos appointed Chavez as Presidential Assistant for Strategic Communications. — VDV, GMA Integrated News