After the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec’s) en banc session on Wednesday, April 6, the poll body announced the creation of Task Force Kontra Fake News.
Commissioner George Erwin M. Garcia said the task force was created to “make a point” and eliminate any attempt by anyone to destroy the credibility of the electoral process.
“Any misinformation directed against the integrity (of Comelec), we will go after them. We will file a case against them,” he said in a press briefing.
“We will utilize the full force of the law, including the combined forces of the PNP and the NBI-Cybercrime to track down these individuals,” Garcia stressed.
He clarified that Task Force Kontra Fake News will not go after individuals who criticize or oppose the Comelec.
However, Garcia said the task force will not go after individuals who spread misinformation against politicians.
Garcia said he will head the anti-fake news task force and his vice-chair is Commissioner Aimee T. Neri.
Nowadays, misinformation or so-called “fake news” is very prevalent on social media which mostly aims to taint or destroy the image of politicians, famous personalities, and institutions.