The three agencies are strengthening their coordination.
On Monday (April 13), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and Department of Justice (DOJ) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to strengthen coordination against fake news, disinformation, and AI-generated deepfakes.
The agreement was signed by PCO Acting Secretary Dave Gomez, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, and Acting DOJ Secretary Frederick Vida.
Under which, they established the “whole-of-government approach” to curb false information, which they regarded as a threat to public safety, national security, and democratic institutions.
Through the MOA, there will be joint efforts to detect, investigate, and prosecute deliberate online falsehoods under existing laws, including the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
The PCO will also lead government communications, advisories, and media literacy campaigns, while the DICT will engage technology platforms, strengthen cybersecurity, and support reporting systems such as eGovPH.
On the other hand, the DOJ will evaluate cases for prosecution and coordinate international action against transnational disinformation.
An inter-agency steering committee will then oversee implementation, ensure data protection, and publish annual reports.
After the MOA signing, Gomez underscored the urgency of the initiative, “We are confronting a rapidly evolving information landscape where truth is increasingly vulnerable to distortion and manipulation.”
He also affirmed that all actions under the MOA will uphold constitutional freedoms while promoting transparency, accountability, and public awareness.
“This initiative is not about curtailing free expression, but about safeguarding the Filipino people from malicious actors who exploit technology to deceive and divide,” he emphasized.
For his part, Vida said, “Today marks a pivotal step in safeguarding our democracy from the shadows of digital disinformation… Digitally mediated falsehoods… have emerged as potent weapons against our national stability.”
The DOJ acting secretary noted that enforcement will respect rights, saying, “Our commitment is clear: proactive defense, not overreach. We draw a firm line between criminal disinformation and protected speech.”
“Hindi na ito simpleng tsismis. Ngayon, kasinungalingan can look real… divide, and erode public trust when clarity is most needed,” Aguda highlighted the evolving nature of threats.
He also emphasized shared accountability and added, “This is not just government acting on its own. This is a national responsibility.”
COMPLAINT TO BE FILED THIS WEEK
As per Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Dave Gomez, a complaint will be filed this week against individuals behind the alleged fake posts online.
At present, he told, authorities are finalizing evidence and document patterns and trends of the surge of fake news, with the case being built on a solid factual basis.
Gomez also stressed that personal interpretations of the content will not be used to avoid spreading misinformation.
“This week, we’re putting together all the pieces of evidence para handa na kaming magsampa ng reklamo para may solid na batayan ‘yung reklamo namin with regards to patterns in trends,” the PCO acting chief noted.
He also shared that while there are observable online patterns, the government is exercising caution to avoid spreading unverified claims itself.
Several fake posts monitored over the weekend, the official noted, have already been included in the evidence being prepared, including the false claim about the health condition of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Gomez also took note of the government’s “Oplan Kontra Fake News,” launched months before tensions in the Middle East erupted, and highlighted that MOA is to hold those responsible for spreading false information to account.
“Hindi tayo narito para manahimik—narito tayo upang ipaglaban at pagtagumpayin ang katotohanan laban sa kasinungalingan,” with the the PCO chief adding that the agreement will enable faster coordination and a more efficient response to misinformation issues.