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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Galing mo tsip!': Ranking solons hail Torre for firm stance vs fake news

'Galing mo tsip!': Ranking solons hail Torre for firm stance vs fake news

Published Feb 23, 2025 07:16 am

At A Glance

  • Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III's firm stance against fake news and misinformation has earned him the administration of several ranking congressmen, who had recently waged war against this menace.

torre.jpegCriminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III's firm stance against fake news and misinformation has earned him the administration of several ranking congressmen, who had recently waged war against this menace.

This, after Torre filed a complaint against a Cebu-based vlogger accused of spreading false information.

“In today’s digital age, truth matters more than ever. We commend the CIDG chief for his commitment to upholding facts and holding accountable those who deliberately mislead the public,” read a joint statement Sunday, Feb. 23 from Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido Abante, Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V, and Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun.

Most of these solons are active participants of the House tri-committee's (tri-comm) inquiry on the spread of fake news online.

Last week, Torre filed complaints of inciting to sedition and unlawful utterances against former president Rodrigo Duterte over his remarks to kill 15 senators so that all his bets would win in the mid-term polls.

Torre was appointed as the chief of the CIDG in September 2024. Prior to this, he served as the police director of the Davao Region, where he spearheaded operations against detained senatorial candidate Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a known ally of Mr. Duterte, who has been accused of human trafficking.

The House leaders stressed the dangers of misinformation, saying it sows confusion and weakens trust in democratic institutions.

“Fake news is a serious threat to our society. It misleads people, distorts public discourse and even puts lives at risk. Those who spread false information should be held responsible for the damage they cause, whether to private individuals, public servants or the Filipino people as a whole,” they said.

They emphasized that under President Marcos' Bagong Pilipinas, justice is served through legal means and due process, not through violence or extrajudicial actions.

“In this new era of governance, those who break the law are not silenced or killed. There are no extrajudicial killings here. Instead, we hold them accountable through the legal process,” they added.

Authorities are currently investigating an alleged data breach and misinformation campaign involving individuals linked to protest actions in Cebu Saturday, including vlogger Ernesto “Jun” Abines.

The operation against Abines was carried out after Torre accused him of spreading false claims about the CIDG chief’s hospitalization. Torre confirmed that he sought a search warrant to seize the devices allegedly used in disseminating misinformation.

The congressmen underscored the importance of cooperation between government agencies and the public in countering fake news.

“This is not just the government’s fight. Every Filipino has a role to play in ensuring that truth prevails over lies,” they said.

They urged the public to be more discerning when consuming and sharing information online.

“Let’s be critical of what we read and hear. Verify facts before spreading information – this is the best way to stop the spread of fake news,” they stressed.

Related Tags

Fake News Nicolas Torre III Tri-comm
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