Manila Bulletin
Philippines
PH values free speech but won't allow spread of misinformation, says Andanar
Philippines
PH values free speech but won't allow spread of misinformation, says Andanar
PH values free speech but won't allow spread of misinformation, says Andanar
Published Jun 5, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
The government values freedom of speech but will not tolerate the spread of misinformation especially amid the coronavirus crisis, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Friday.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar (PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Andanar issued the statement after rejecting allegations of the United Nations rights chief that the government has arbitrarily arrested critics of the government's coronavirus response. He defended that the arrests of some persons were actually legal operations and were not meant to silence government critics.
"This government values every Filipino’s freedom of speech and expression, knowing that they are truly vital toward a free flow of information and constructive and productive discourses. In the same vein, it values, protects, and upholds press freedom by safeguarding the media environment and the media workers. Such freedoms clearly prove our thriving democracy," he said.
"However, when one uses information to deliberately mislead and deceive the general public on relevant matters, possibly leading them to harm, the complications caused by such actions need to be legally dealt with and rectified. Such instances are not acts curtailing these freedoms. Instead they are acts meant to undermine ill interests of promoting an anarchical and ignorant society," he added.
He said tolerating the spread of misinformation in the name of free speech was "no different from encouraging an individual to remain apathetic and oblivious to the growing societal problems everyone is facing, especially at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic."
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michele Bachelet recently expressed alarm about the alleged clampdown on freedom of expression in the Asia Pacific during the coronavirus crisis. She said people had been fined, arrested and attacked for allegedly spreading misinformation or criticizing the government's response in countries like the Philippines.
Andanar, however, said the UN official's claim of "arbitrary arrests" done by the government are "unfounded and uncalled for."
"All operations that the government has undertaken regarding this matter, are legal operations that are hinged on the respect for the rule of law and due process as provided by the country's justice system," he said.
"Regardless of political or ideological positions, it is to be noted that we have undertaken such measures with transparency, impartiality and accountability; therefore, any arrests that were made were not targeted towards silencing the critics of this administration," he said.
To combat the spread of misinformation, Andanar explained that the government included a provision that penalizes a person and groups that create, perpetrate and spread false information about the coronavirus crisis under the Bayanihan law.
Andanar also defended the labor department's attempt to seek the deportation of an overseas Filipino worker in Taiwan. "This instance was not an act of silencing dissent, but an act of penalizing those who promulgate libelous and false information under our legal system," he said.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar (PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Andanar issued the statement after rejecting allegations of the United Nations rights chief that the government has arbitrarily arrested critics of the government's coronavirus response. He defended that the arrests of some persons were actually legal operations and were not meant to silence government critics.
"This government values every Filipino’s freedom of speech and expression, knowing that they are truly vital toward a free flow of information and constructive and productive discourses. In the same vein, it values, protects, and upholds press freedom by safeguarding the media environment and the media workers. Such freedoms clearly prove our thriving democracy," he said.
"However, when one uses information to deliberately mislead and deceive the general public on relevant matters, possibly leading them to harm, the complications caused by such actions need to be legally dealt with and rectified. Such instances are not acts curtailing these freedoms. Instead they are acts meant to undermine ill interests of promoting an anarchical and ignorant society," he added.
He said tolerating the spread of misinformation in the name of free speech was "no different from encouraging an individual to remain apathetic and oblivious to the growing societal problems everyone is facing, especially at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic."
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michele Bachelet recently expressed alarm about the alleged clampdown on freedom of expression in the Asia Pacific during the coronavirus crisis. She said people had been fined, arrested and attacked for allegedly spreading misinformation or criticizing the government's response in countries like the Philippines.
Andanar, however, said the UN official's claim of "arbitrary arrests" done by the government are "unfounded and uncalled for."
"All operations that the government has undertaken regarding this matter, are legal operations that are hinged on the respect for the rule of law and due process as provided by the country's justice system," he said.
"Regardless of political or ideological positions, it is to be noted that we have undertaken such measures with transparency, impartiality and accountability; therefore, any arrests that were made were not targeted towards silencing the critics of this administration," he said.
To combat the spread of misinformation, Andanar explained that the government included a provision that penalizes a person and groups that create, perpetrate and spread false information about the coronavirus crisis under the Bayanihan law.
Andanar also defended the labor department's attempt to seek the deportation of an overseas Filipino worker in Taiwan. "This instance was not an act of silencing dissent, but an act of penalizing those who promulgate libelous and false information under our legal system," he said.