Duterte’s vow to veto bill to ban fake news premature – Aquino

Senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV on Thursday downplayed President Duterte’s vow to veto any bill proposing to ban fake news, saying such pronouncement is still premature.

The Senate on Oct. 4 started its initial investigation into alleged fake news and invited controversial government communication officials, bloggers and journalists to shed light into the rampant circulation of alleged fake information aimed at discrediting either supporters of President Duterte and or members of the Liberal Party (LP), now part of the opposition.

“Premature pa yan kasi kakahearing pa natin at sa totoo rin lang marami pang mae-enggage dito sa ating batas para mas mapayaman pa ito (That’s still premature to say because we just heard the issue and we realize a lot of people would have to be engaged in the crafting of this law to enrich its provisions),” Aquino told reporters in an interview.

“But I am in my mindset na gaya sa ibang bansa kung saan napepenalize ung mga nagsusulat at nagbobroadcast ng pekeng balita, palagay ko panahon na sa ating bansa na magkaroon ng ganitong rules dito (that like in other countries where those who broadcast and write fake news are being penalized, I think it’s high time we also have the same rules applied here),” he said.

Duterte had said he cannot allow such measure to be passed into law since it would violate any person’s right to freedom of expression.

But Aquino reiterated that freedom of speech or freedom of expression is not absolute.

“That’s why we have libel (law) because we have laws that prohibit an individual from threatening another person. You can be jailed,” he pointed out.

“So there are limits to freedoms. However, you look at it, there are always parameters and so I think calls to penalize fake news is valid,” he said.

He said lawmakers should consider doubling the penalty for any public official who would be found a purveyor of false information.

“Both the (Senate) majority and minority seem to be intent on passing this law, so we can have a better policy on rules of engagement in the online battlefield,” Aquino stressed.