Palace: Creating online content shouldn't be treated as joke

Malacañang on Wednesday warned against spreading misinformation online for the purpose of engagement and content. 

At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro was asked for comment on the statement of a vlogger that he spread a fake medical record of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. for engagement. 

''Ang batas ay dapat ipatupad. Ang lumabag sa batas ay dapat managot. Hindi po kasi ginagawang biro ang pagku-content lalo na kung makakaapekto ito hindi lamang sa taong ginawa mong subject matter sa iyong content kung hindi sa buong tao, sa buong mamamayan na maaaring makapanood ng inyong mga fake news,'' Castro said. 

(The law must be enforced. Those who violate the law must be penalized. Creating content should not be treated as a joke especially if this will affect not just one person but even other people who could see this kind of fake news.)

''So, nilalabanan po natin ang fake news, at hindi po dapat ito gagawin at pagkasabi ng sorry ay tapos na,'' she added.

(We are fighting fake news and this should not simply end when one says sorry.) 

The National Bureau of Investigation earlier said it is examining the statement of vlogger Jason Argota, who supposedly circulated fake and unauthorized medical records of Marcos.

According to NBI Director Lito Magno, Argota appeared before the agency in compliance with a subpoena and submitted a statement that remains under investigation.

The NBI earlier announced it also filed a cyberlibel complaint against former broadcaster Jay Sonza and social media personality Eric Celiz for allegedly spreading false medical information about the President.

Magno said the complaint had already been filed before the Prosecutor’s Office and clarified that Argota’s case is being handled as a separate investigation.

To recall, a document about the President’s supposed health condition circulated on social media, which Malacañang described as “fabricated and malicious.”

The issue followed Marcos’ earlier medical observation at St. Luke’s Medical Center due to diverticulitis, an inflammation of pouches in the wall of the large intestine.—AOL, GMA Integrated News