Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil assured the public that the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) strives to share facts with the public as she highlighted the importance of ensuring factual communication about government actions and services amid the proliferation of fake news.

Garafil said this during the Commission on Appointments hearing for her confirmation as the PCO secretary on Wednesday, March 15.

In her opening remarks, Garafil recognized that leading the PCO was a "tough endeavor," especially when fake news is easily spread via the Internet.

"I know that serving as PCO Secretary will be a tough endeavor. In a time when information is readily available at the click of a finger, there is also the proliferation of fake news," she said.

"We, at PCO, have to make sure and likewise watch ourselves to ensure that we only share facts and truth," she added.

In an interview with Senate reporters, Garafil vowed that the PCO will always be truthful and transparent.

"We will always try to be truthful and transparent in all our articles, in all our efforts," she said.

Combating fake news

During her confirmation hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros asked Garafil how the PCO can help fight fake news. The Palace official said they "abhor" it.

"Ang fake news hindi ito-tolerate ng PCO. Actually, ina-abhor po namin ang fake news (The PCO will not tolerate fake news. Actually, we abhor it)," Garafil said.

"Madami pa ring fake news na naranasan po ang PCO at ng mga members ng OP (Office of the President) kaya talaga po isa ito sa mga lalabanan natin sa aking termino bilang secretary ng PCO (There are still many fake news about the PCO and the members of the OP that's why we'll fight them during my term as PCO secretary)," she added.

According to Garafil, the PCO will launch a media literacy program to help people distinguish real from fake news.

"Pupunta po kami sa grassroots para tutukan itong problema ng fake news (We will go to the grassroots to address the fake news problem)," she said.

"Para wala na pong mabiktima at maturuan ang ating mga kababayan na maging mapanuri sa mga nakikita nila at nababasa nila sa social media (So that no one will fall victim to it and to teach our people to be more discerning when it comes to social media contents)," she added.

Heading the PCO

Meanwhile, Garafil said it was an honor to be invited by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to take over the PCO following the resignation of lawyer Trixie Cruz-Angeles in November last year.

"Nang ako po ay tawagan ni Pangulong Marcos upang maging bahagi ng PCO, hindi po ako nagdalawang-isip (Whe President Marcos called me to be part of the PCO, I did not think twice)," Garafil said.

"Bilang isang dating journalist at public relations practitioner, batid ko kung gaano kahalaga ang papel ng PCO sa pagsiguro na maipahatid sa publiko ang tamang impormasyon ukol sa mga programa at polisiya ng gobyerno (As a former journalist and a PR practitioner, I know how important the role of the PCO is in ensuring that the public will get the right information about the government's programs and policies)," she added.

The PCO has undergone numerous reorganizations since the start of the Marcos Administration. According to Garafil, they ensure to protect their employees' rights during these endeavors.

"Nagkaroon ng maraming pagbabago ang ahensya. Kami po ay nag-reorganize upang mas maging streamlined ang mga opisina ng Office of the President na bahagi ng pagbibigay ng impormasyon (Many changes were made in the agency. We reorganized to streamline the different offices that are part of information dissemination under the Office of the President)," she said.

"Nais nating siguruhin na sa pag-reorganize at pag-aayos ng PCO at attached agencies ay ating maprotektahan ang karapatan ng ating mga empleyado (We ensure that we protect the rights of our employees as we reorganize and make adjustments at the PCO and its attached agencies)," she added.