It’s been a big week for fake news in the Philippines.
Several reports of vloggers, content creators, and social media users spreading misleading information have made their way into national headlines. Recently, on March 21, the House of Representatives’ Tri-Committee led a hearing where a group of social media personalities were summoned to speak on and apologize for their “sensationalized, baseless” claims. The group had initially been called to attend the House’s first hearing on February 4, but had snubbed the invitation.
Krizette Laureta Chu, one of the bloggers in question, was questioned on her March 14 social media post that claimed that there would be a mass resignation within the Philippine National Police in response to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s recent arrest. While the claim was uncorroborated by any official reports, Chu remained firm that she was in the right. “Mr. Chair, I made sure to put the word “daw” [in my post],” Chu said at the hearing. “I am maintaining that I am speaking the truth on the impressions on social media.”
Another blogger, Mary Jane Quiambao Reyes, was also grilled on a recent post in which she claimed that the victims of the extrajudicial killings linked to Duterte’s “war on drugs” campaign were “a hoax.” “The anti-Duterte propagandists, likely funded by drug cartels, terrorists, corrupt politicians, greedy politicians, and narcopoliticians, are desperately trying to manipulate the global narrative,” Reyes wrote in her post.
“You see what’s happening to us? We are being divided online,” said Presidential Communications Office Secretary Jay Ruiz at the hearing. “It’s Filipinos and Filipinos fighting each other.”
You’re joking, right?
While fake news may seem comical in hindsight, it’s often difficult to spot in the moment and the consequences of believing it are far from trivial. Fake news can spread fast, resulting in widespread misinformation that influences public opinion, fuels division, and undermines trust in legitimate sources. When people believe these falsehoods, they can make ill-informed decisions that affect everything from political outcomes to public safety.
However, convincing people to believe in the truth is easier said than done. Most recently, Filipino netizens commented on First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos’ March 21 Facebook post, claiming that her image had been edited into the photograph to make it appear as though she were in the Philippines. While many have been claiming that the photograph was doctored to hide the fact that the First Lady is being held by authorities in the United States, Malacañang Palace has denied these claims, emphasizing that Marcos is indeed in the Philippines.
“What can we expect from those who know nothing? Madaling mag-pretend na as if they know everything,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a Viber statement to reporters.
Other instances of fake news verge on the absurd. Numerous quote cards have been circulating on social media, citing fictional lawyers in relation to the pending International Criminal Court (ICC) case against former president Rodrigo Duterte. “Filipinos still have the chance to bring home Mr. Duterte prior to September 2025, under the principle of Rigor Mortis,” says one YouTube Short citing Harvey Specter, the fictional lawyer from the American TV drama Suits. The post also claims that Specter is accredited by the ICC and is the founder of a top New York City law firm.
Another social media post falsely cites “Saul Goodman,” the fast-talking attorney from the American series Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, as commenting on Duterte’s case. The post, complete with the official Fox News logo, reads: “The ICC clearly violates international law by arresting Mr. Duterte.”
Yes, You Can Get In Trouble
Although the Philippine government has yet to clearly legally define what constitutes “fake news,” the recent uptick in false information has resulted in authorities taking more aggressive measures to combat its spread. Most recently, on March 20, a Cebu-based vlogger named “Windy” was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation Central Visayas Regional Office (NBI-CEVRO) for modifying a statement made by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. and posting the altered statement on social media.
At a recent campaign rally, the president stressed that the solution to the Philippines’ drug and crime problems should not involve violence. “Hindi tama ‘yun,” said Marcos. “Ang tamang paraan para tiyakin ang kapayapaan at kaayusan ay sa pamamagitan ng maayos na batas.” Windy took the liberty of adding an extra sentence to Marcos’ statement: “Gumawa tayo ng paraan na gawing ‘legal’ ang droga sa ating bansa.”
Although Windy confessed to earning a small amount of money from spreading fake news about the president, explaining that she needed the funds after losing her job, she has since been charged under Article 152 of the Revised Penal Code. If found guilty, Windy may face six months to six years in prison and a fine of up to P200,000.
In response to the Cebu vlogger’s pending case, NBI Director Jaime Santiago has stressed that the government agency will be enforcing stricter penalties for those found guilty of spreading fake news. “We’re rounding them up little by little,” Santiago said in Filipino in an interview with Philstar. “Facebook and TikTok are cooperating with us. This is it. So here’s a warning to them: we won’t let them off the hook.”
Santiago also announced on March 24 that the NBI has a list of 20 vloggers known for spreading fake news, especially surrounding political tensions, and is investigating the vloggers’ potential financial backers. “Why does it seem that they have only one theme — riding on the disturbances in our political atmosphere?” Santiago said in Filipino to reporters after the March 24 graduation ceremony at the NBI Academy. “This should not happen. Our country is in trouble. Citizens will be confused.”
