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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gordon warns public on surge of fake news vs Senate probers

Gordon warns public on surge of fake news vs Senate probers

Published Oct 3, 2021 09:12 am

Senator Richard Gordon on Sunday, Oct 3, called on the public to be vigilant against the proliferation of fake news and clickbait headlines that are fomenting disinformation to muddle and deflect the people’s attention away from the Senate’s investigation into the alleged overpriced COVID-19 pandemic supplies.

Gordon, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee which is investigating the controversy, noted that he and other senators probing the anomalous procurement by the government of medical and supplies and equipment had been subjected to online demolition, noting the surge of disinformation and patently false stories masquerading as news.

“Some unscrupulous people and groups are really out to discredit and demolish us. These kinds of online stories will continue to bombard us as election campaign will be highly partisan and will rely heavily on social media for information,” Gordon said.

“Let’s be more cautious against fake news and clickbait headlines populating our social media pages, most of them are patently false or rehashed issues thrown at us. Trust only those news stories from reputable mainstream media,” he said.

The senator noted that AFP news agency and Verafiles—an online fact-checking news organization—have flagged down pro-administration social media accounts on Facebook and YouTube where Gordon supposedly “folded and apologized to the President.”

Rappler news website also reported another fake news that the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), which Gordon chairs, has turned its blood donation program into a money-making business to discourage people from donating blood.

Among these social media accounts that were flagged down include Trending Viral TH2, PH Breaking News, Inday Sara Para sa Masa, Unofficial Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa Solid Supporters, and Eagle eyes of the Philippines citizen-report.

“We are seriously investigating the barrage of disinformation, fake news and patently false or rehashed stories being spread online to attack us, especially those among pro-administration pages,” he said.

“This includes clickbait headlines that deliberately and unscrupulously poison our minds with misleading and inaccurate information in order to muddle and deflect our attention from the corruption issues under this administration,” the senator added.

Related Tags

Senate probe Fake News Senate blue ribbon committee pharmally pharma overpriced COVID-19 supplies richard gordon
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