The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has urged the public to be more discerning amid the increasing spread of false narratives online this past week.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this as she acknowledged that fake news has become rampant following the surrender of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 11.

"It is very obvious that more fake news are lingering, maybe because of the present situation regarding the arrest of former president Duterte," she said in a press briefing on Monday, March 17.

"Sana po yung mga kababayan po natin, lahat po tayo dito ay Pilipino, magmasid lang po muna tayo. Yun lang po ang tanging hiling natin (We hope that our countrymen would observe first. That's our only request)," she added.

When asked if pursuing legal actions against fake news peddlers is on the table, Castro said the PCO was studying it.

"Pinag-aaralan po natin 'yan (We're looking into that)," she said.

Castro said the PCO would coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) following reports that they are planning to go after individuals spreading fake news.

"Makikipag-ugnayan po tayo, lalong-lalo talagang dumarami po ang fake news para po malihis ang katotohanan (Yes, we will coordinate, especially since fake news is increasing to distort the truth)," she said.

The Palace official particularly cited an instance involving former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, who claimed that Duterte was missing, something that the ICC has debunked.

Castro likewise cited a statement by Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte that he received reports that their house would be raided. She said there was no truth to his claims.

"So, yung mga ganoon po mga iresponsableng mga pananalita ay dapat po nga ang tao ay magmasid. Mag-isip at matutuhang mag-evaluate para hindi nagugulo ang ating isipan at damdamin (So, with such irresponsible statements, people should observe, think, and learn to evaluate so we won't confuse our minds and emotions)," she said.

"Can we consider this as fake news? Can be," she added.

Meanwhile, Castro appealed to the media to help in countering false information spreading online.

"Tayo na po ang magsabi kung alam niyo po na peke ito, kayo na po mag-fact-check (We should be the one to say if something is fake, you should fact-check)," she said.