From left to right: Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, Benhur Abalos, Manny Pacquiao (Facebook)

What do Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, Benhur Abalos, and Manny Pacquiao have in common? 

They all want to institutionalize tougher laws against fake news, especially after they have all been victimized by this kind of online content. 

They shared their experiences and subsequent plans during the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate's press conference in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan on Friday, Feb. 28. 

Sotto, who is from the showbiz industry, sarcastically said that he had "lost" many of his friends because of fake news. This is because of all the fake deaths of famous personalities that have been reported over the years. 

The former Senate President reckoned that fake news should be strictly prohibited and offenders must be penalized to deter misinformation and online scams. He noted that existing laws, including the Anti-Cybercrime Law, lack clear provisions to hold perpetrators accountable. 

Sotto stressed that digital activity is now more traceable due to the SIM registration law, making it easier to track offenders. 

“Traceable na lahat ngayon…Therefore, lagyan natin ng penalties ‘yung mga gumagawa nito. Isa, dalawa madala diyan, tignan mo ibang klase ang epekto (Everything is traceable now...Therefore, let's penalize the people who do this. Let's make an example out of one or two, and you'll see the big effect),” he added. 

Abalos, who has been impersonated in online scams, described how fraudsters used his identity to offer fake mobile load promos and election-related cash incentives. 

“Ang daming tumawag sa akin…mukha ko, pangalan ko, ginaya talaga ‘yung Facebook account ko (A lot of people called me...my face, my name, they copied my entire Facebook account),” he said. 

The former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary also recalled how a fake text blast on election day falsely claimed he was offering P5,000 in exchange for votes. 

Abalos noted that cybercrime has now surpassed theft as the most common crime in the Philippines, based on Philippine National Police (PNP) records. He urged increased funding for law enforcement to strengthen cybercrime investigations. 

“Dapat siguro dagdagan ng budget ang PNP para dito dahil kakaiba ito (I think we should increase the PNP's budget for this because this is something else)," he said. 

Meanwhile, Pacquiao shared how he has been falsely reported dead multiple times, and had his identity used in scams. 

“Nabasa ko ‘yong sarili ko. Pagbukas ko ng Facebook, nakita ko doon: ‘Paalam, Manny Pacquiao.’ Namatay na raw ako (I read about myself. When I opened Facebook, I saw it there: 'Farewell, Manny Pacquiao.' They said I died),” said the boxing icon-turned-politician. 

He warned the public against fraudsters who solicit money using his name. He also clarified that he never authorizes third parties to distribute financial aid. 

“Kung ako mamimigay, ako mismo magbibigay, hindi ibang tao. Kung may ko-contact sa inyo na bibigyan kayo ng pera, ‘wag po kayong maniwala. Unless ako ang makausap niyo sa personal,” he stressed. 

(If I would give money away, I would do it myself, and not through other people. If people contact you and tell you that they will give you money, don't believe it. Unless I'm the one you personally talk to.) 

Pacquiao committed to pursue stricter regulations against online disinformation and fraud, ensuring that offenders face real consequences under the law.