Sotto says 50% tax for content creators 'fake news'

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Friday slammed social media posts which falsely claim that he is proposing a 50% additional tax on content creators. 

Sotto said that in his over two decades as a senator, he has never filed any proposed additional tax measures. In fact, he said, he even wants to reduce taxes. 

"For the information of my colleagues, numerous and coordinated circulation of fake news have been circulating regarding new tax measures allegedly proposed by this representation, by me. In my 24 years in the Senate, I have never proposed for any additional tax measures. In fact, I have consistently voted against it," he said during the plenary session.

"For the peddlers of fake news, ipagdadasal ko na lang kayo. Sa ating mga kababayan, huwag kayo basta maniniwala, lalo na 'pag masama ang balita," he added. 

(For the peddlers of fake news, I will just pray for you. To our countrymen, don't believe anything right away, especially if the news is bad.) 

'Propaganda'

In an ambush interview, Sotto called the disinformation as "propaganda" against himself and the Senate. 

"I think there is a concerted effort by some quarters. I don't know who. We'll try to find out," he said. 

"Siguro, walang makita sa amin, eh 'di gumawa na lang ng imbento, gumawa ng fake news… Of course, to discredit us, most probably," he continued.

(Maybe they can't find any dirt on us, that's why they're just inventing fake news. Most probably, they want to discredit us.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News