The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has endorsed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the investigation and possible filing of charges against three Facebook accounts accused of spreading false information about the health of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a statement dated April 15, the PCO’s Anti-Fake News Desk identified the accounts as Iloy Bugris: The Queen of Revelations, Rigondola Ping, and Crage Anderpal.
According to the PCO, Iloy Bugris: The Queen of Revelations conducted live broadcasts falsely claiming that the President was critically ill, while also allegedly soliciting money from viewers through posted GCash and BPI account details. The group further claimed that a fabricated medical document was shown during one of the broadcasts.
“The account ‘Iloy Bugris: The Queen of Revelations’ conducted live broadcasts falsely claiming the President is critically ill and solicited financial contributions from viewers through posted GCash and BPI account details. During one broadcast, the administrator displayed a purported medical document that was fabricated,” the PCO said.
The PCO also alleged that Rigondola Ping circulated manipulated images showing the President in distress, while Crage Anderpal was accused of posting fake news graphics about Marcos’ health condition.
The endorsement follows a similar action on April 7 against the Facebook page Malasakit News Pilipinas for allegedly spreading fabricated reports about a national energy emergency.
It also comes after the April 13 signing of a Memorandum of Agreement among the DOJ, PCO, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to strengthen coordination in prosecuting online disinformation.
The PCO reiterated that spreading false information carries legal consequences.
“The deliberate fabrication and dissemination of false information — particularly during a declared State of National Energy Emergency under Executive Order No. 110 — is a crime under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, with penalties elevated when committed online under the Cybercrime Prevention Act,” the statement read.