By Hannah Torregoza Despite Palace officials' opposition to the bill, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said he is keen on passing a proposed law that would penalize government officials who are creating and sharing fake news. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
(Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN) Trillanes said it is imperative that government officials are held in high esteem and thus, should be held responsible if they share or propagate wrong information or ‘fake news’ while or during the performance of their duty. “Because if you are a public official, you are placed on a higher plane. You have a bigger responsibility to society. Much is expected of you, so it is very important that you set an example and you are not the source and not the one sharing fake news,” Trillanes told reporters at the sidelines of a committee hearing. “That is what we need to remove—government officials who are disseminating fake news. Because the government is paying their salaries, through taxpayers’ money, they should not be found as the source of fake news,” he stressed. Trillanes, chair of the Seante committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, on Wednesday started hearing Senate Bill Nos. 870 and 1680, which were filed by Senators Grace Poe and Joel Villanueva. Senate Bill No. 870, filed by Poe, specifically seeks to strengthen the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Servants and make it adaptable to the changing political landscape. Senate Bill No. 1680, which Poe and Villanueva authored, specifically seeks to amend the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or Republic Act No. 6713, by penalizing government officials and employees who will disseminate information or who share false news or information. President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman, Harry Roque, who was present during the hearing, told the panel he is opposed to the bill as this would entail curtailing freedom of expression. “The Constitution says that no laws should be passed abridging freedom of expression. It doesn’t say that ‘except those that are fake news’,” Roque said. The presidential spokesperson, likewise, reiterated his position that Poe’s measure is unconstitutional and vague, because there is still no definition of fake news and thus passage of the bill into law could pave way to abuse. The Philippine Press Institute (PPI) said they would look further into the salient features of the bill even though they had initial reservations on the measure. But PPI President Al Pedroche said that when Senators Trillanes and Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV explained to them that it would not encroach on the freedom of the press, they welcome the idea. Pedroche said they are open to the measure as long as it would only cover government officials and not legitimate media practitioners. Trillanes assured that in crafting the law, senators will do away with imprisonment but will impose hefty penalties, suspension, administrative sanctions and or possible removal from government service. “One can face suspension, so if he or she is a recidivist, the duration of the suspension would depend on the gravity of his or her actions. With or without pay is something we have yet to discuss and we will study that thoroughly during the technical working group,” Trillanes said. “But at least for now, we are doing something to stop this phenomenon on fake news. Its really bad especially if a pubic official is involved in the process,” he said. Trillanes also said the committee acknowledges Roque’s stand it would be hard to define fake news. “But we will try. We acknowledge it would be hard to define it but we need to do something about it,” Trillanes pointed out. “Other countries, like in Europe, already have legislation regarding fake news. Maybe we can get a template there, so we will see,” he stressed.