Acting Communications Secretary Dave Gomez on Thursday warned that the growing spread of disinformation on social media, particularly about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s health, is intended to destabilize the government.
In a statement, Gomez said the agency’s Anti-Fake News Desk observed a “sudden” and “coordinated surge” of false information, noting that even mainstream media had been affected by what he described as a “vicious attack of the trolls.”
“The timing is suspect. Why the sudden surge at this time? Why resort to outright lies? Why the desperation? Regardless, the motive is clear. Distract and destabilize our government,” Gomez declared.
He assured the public that the President remains undistracted.
“The President remains laser-focused on one mission: solving our energy emergency and delivering real, tangible help to every Filipino family, improving their lives and strengthening our economy,” he added.
Gomez emphasized that the PCO is tracking and documenting every post, comment, and falsehood, with possible legal action to be filed against those responsible as early as next week.
“Each one is a piece of evidence we can use in court. We will identify the perpetrators, trace their networks, and file the proper charges in court once the evidence is complete hopefully by next week,” he said.
The agency reiterated its commitment to countering disinformation and safeguarding the integrity of government communication.