‘Think before you click’ to avoid fake news and damaging reputation
Published Apr 26, 2020 00:00 am
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Updated Apr 26, 2020 00:00 am
BATANG MAYNILA
By MAYOR ISKO MORENO
Mayor Isko Moreno
It’s just lamentable that amid the incessant calls against “fake news” by various government authorities, the city of Manila fell victim to it not once, but twice, over the past few days.
The first was when a certain Ronald Gunday posted a photo of a supposed cockfighting in the city. After we had it verified and found it to be bogus, Gunday is now facing a case for violation of Republic Act 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and Republic Act 1469, the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, which prohibits, among others, the dissemination of fake news or information.
So much precious time was wasted which the local government could have put to better use. We act swiftly on complaints but do make sure that they are legitimate and true or we will hold you liable.
If you think this was bad enough, the second fake news posted was worse. It showed an old photo of Divisoria filled to the brim with a sea of people. Apparently, it was meant to make it appear that there is no discipline in the ranks of Manila citizens, and worse, in government. What’s even more lamentable is the fact that some shared or reposted it without exerting any effort to at least verify if the original post was true or not. Otherwise, they would have found out that it was a very old photo.
All these, when it is public knowledge that I had barely warmed my seat as the new mayor when I decided to clear Divisoria of hundreds of vendors and return it to its rightful purpose, which is to serve as a route for motorists and the riding public.
The huge amount of money I turned down from “organizers” just to turn a blind eye and allow the continued operation of the illegal vendors in Divisoria is no joke, alongside the threats I got for refusing to dance to their music and standing pat on my decision to put an end to countless years of illegal vendors and their organizers reigning over the streets of Divisoria.
Repeatedly too, I have stated that once these vendors return, it would only mean one thing – that I’ve been “paid.”
This is why I couldn’t help but keep shaking my head when the fake photo of an overcrowded Divisoria was irresponsibly posted on social media, especially when others bothered to share and repost, it which, to my surprise, included some known government figures who had countless ways to directly ask me if the photo was fake or not.
Just the same, they admitted their fault and said they were sorry, meaning we can now move on. However, I would like to urgently call on the public to be responsible in using the social media and to at least do some research to know if what they post or repost is fake or real.
This is because they may damage people’s reputation and worse, they can be held liable since such irresponsibility of spreading fake news is a violation of the “Bayanihan Act” that carries penalties.
How many times have we heard the words, “Think before you click?” This means that we should use our heads as responsible social media users and not be reckless about it. Using the social media has a huge responsibility that goes with it and using it as a platform for disseminating false information will not do any good or provide any help amid the crisis that our country is facing today.
I am also taking this opportunity to appeal to the public to be more discerning when they use social media and not to believe everything they see and read, more so, share or report any information unless they themselves have verified such to be true.
It is truly saddening that in the wake of a crisis like what we now face, there are certain individuals who are not helping any and yet manage to engage in black propaganda. While we face the deadly coronavirus, another virus we can aptly call “poli-virus,” or “political virus,” is inching its way into the citizenry, courtesy of selfish politicians who refuse to extend any help and will do anything it takes to smear the reputation of those who are truly helping.
Instead of using their money to at least buy some rice for the hungry, these unscrupulous people would rather use the money for “trolls” or paid hacks whose job is to post fake news for gullible netizens whom they think they can dupe.
These paid trolls have no life. With a single click on the Internet, they get paid. It doesn’t matter if they would cause damage to the government or add more stress to the public. They feed on people’s stress and the money they get from crooked politicians who pay them bigtime is what they use to feed their families with.
I have been overstretching my patience but it just might also run out one day. Be careful with what you post and repost. If you cannot be of help, just don’t be a nuisance or do anything to disparage anyone.
Mayor Isko Moreno
It’s just lamentable that amid the incessant calls against “fake news” by various government authorities, the city of Manila fell victim to it not once, but twice, over the past few days.
The first was when a certain Ronald Gunday posted a photo of a supposed cockfighting in the city. After we had it verified and found it to be bogus, Gunday is now facing a case for violation of Republic Act 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and Republic Act 1469, the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, which prohibits, among others, the dissemination of fake news or information.
So much precious time was wasted which the local government could have put to better use. We act swiftly on complaints but do make sure that they are legitimate and true or we will hold you liable.
If you think this was bad enough, the second fake news posted was worse. It showed an old photo of Divisoria filled to the brim with a sea of people. Apparently, it was meant to make it appear that there is no discipline in the ranks of Manila citizens, and worse, in government. What’s even more lamentable is the fact that some shared or reposted it without exerting any effort to at least verify if the original post was true or not. Otherwise, they would have found out that it was a very old photo.
All these, when it is public knowledge that I had barely warmed my seat as the new mayor when I decided to clear Divisoria of hundreds of vendors and return it to its rightful purpose, which is to serve as a route for motorists and the riding public.
The huge amount of money I turned down from “organizers” just to turn a blind eye and allow the continued operation of the illegal vendors in Divisoria is no joke, alongside the threats I got for refusing to dance to their music and standing pat on my decision to put an end to countless years of illegal vendors and their organizers reigning over the streets of Divisoria.
Repeatedly too, I have stated that once these vendors return, it would only mean one thing – that I’ve been “paid.”
This is why I couldn’t help but keep shaking my head when the fake photo of an overcrowded Divisoria was irresponsibly posted on social media, especially when others bothered to share and repost, it which, to my surprise, included some known government figures who had countless ways to directly ask me if the photo was fake or not.
Just the same, they admitted their fault and said they were sorry, meaning we can now move on. However, I would like to urgently call on the public to be responsible in using the social media and to at least do some research to know if what they post or repost is fake or real.
This is because they may damage people’s reputation and worse, they can be held liable since such irresponsibility of spreading fake news is a violation of the “Bayanihan Act” that carries penalties.
How many times have we heard the words, “Think before you click?” This means that we should use our heads as responsible social media users and not be reckless about it. Using the social media has a huge responsibility that goes with it and using it as a platform for disseminating false information will not do any good or provide any help amid the crisis that our country is facing today.
I am also taking this opportunity to appeal to the public to be more discerning when they use social media and not to believe everything they see and read, more so, share or report any information unless they themselves have verified such to be true.
It is truly saddening that in the wake of a crisis like what we now face, there are certain individuals who are not helping any and yet manage to engage in black propaganda. While we face the deadly coronavirus, another virus we can aptly call “poli-virus,” or “political virus,” is inching its way into the citizenry, courtesy of selfish politicians who refuse to extend any help and will do anything it takes to smear the reputation of those who are truly helping.
Instead of using their money to at least buy some rice for the hungry, these unscrupulous people would rather use the money for “trolls” or paid hacks whose job is to post fake news for gullible netizens whom they think they can dupe.
These paid trolls have no life. With a single click on the Internet, they get paid. It doesn’t matter if they would cause damage to the government or add more stress to the public. They feed on people’s stress and the money they get from crooked politicians who pay them bigtime is what they use to feed their families with.
I have been overstretching my patience but it just might also run out one day. Be careful with what you post and repost. If you cannot be of help, just don’t be a nuisance or do anything to disparage anyone.
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Walang mag mamalasakit sa Maynila kundi tayo ding mga Batang Maynila. Manila, God first!
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For updates on the latest developments in the City of Manila, please visit my Facebook account: Isko Moreno Domagoso.