The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) acknowledges the need for a regulatory body for social media to combat fake news on this platform.

In a press briefing in Malacanang on Monday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stressed the need for a regulatory body to reduce social media abuse.

“Sa tingin po natin, ang pagkakaroon ng regulatory body, separate na regulatory body for the social media ,ay napapanahon para maiwasan iyong mga pang-aabuso,” Castro said.

Castro also recognized the exigency of working with Congress to expedite the passage of laws against troll armies and fake news.

“Dapat makipag-ugnayan din po tayo, makipagtulungan tayo sa mga mambabatas sa Kongreso kasi sila din naman ang gagawa ng batas dito,” she said.

Castro said opinions backed by legal evidence will be respected as part of freedom of speech. However, unverified information or statements filled with abusive language should not be tolerated.

“Hindi po natin pipigilan iyong mga opinyon na naaayon naman sa batas. Kumbaga, opinyon na lehitimo. Kung ito man ay kritisismo, iyan ay dapat lang na irespeto,” Castro said.

“Ang pipigilan lang po natin ay (ang pang aabuso) dahil po mayroon po itong effect sa taong maaaring siraan, mga organisasyon, ahensiya na maaaring siraan na walang basehan,” she added. Presidential News Desk