Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jaybee C. Ruiz on Thursday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) in the fight against fake news and misinformation.

“The PCO will fight against fake news through a whole-of-government approach,” Secretary Ruiz declared during the MOA signing with Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Executive Director Undersecretary Alexander Ramos.

Ruiz said the PCO will also leverage the expertise of Scam Watch Pilipinas, a national cybersecurity movement dedicated to educating Filipinos on cyber fraud and addressing cybersecurity gaps at the grassroots level.

Ruiz hoped more agencies would join the campaign against fake news and misinformation.

“Fake news has become prevalent in recent times. It has become even stronger in the last weeks after former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by Interpol and brought to The Hague in the Netherlands to face allegations of crimes against humanity,” he said.

“Fighting fake news is the fight of our generation. We should all join hands and work together to win this fight,” he added.

The PCO has mandated all its attached agencies to designate dedicated fact-checking officers to strengthen internal mechanisms against spreading false information.

It has partnered with VERA Files to conduct training sessions to counter misinformation and disinformation. VERA Files is a verified fact-checking partner of Meta that works to debunk false claims circulating online.

The PCO also launched a Media and Information Literacy Campaign focused on educating the youth on assessing and validating information sources, helping them distinguish falsehoods from the truth. | PND

Every region in the Philippines has its own distinct culture and unique offerings worthy of recognition, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Thursday.

Castro said as she explained why President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vetoed a bill declaring Pampanga as the culinary center of the Philippines.

During Thursday’s press briefing in Malacañang, Castro said that the goal is to recognize and promote the diverse cultures and uniqueness of all regions in the country.

“Ang atin pong bawat rehiyon po ay may kaniya-kaniyang kultura, may kaniya-kaniyang kagalingan… may uniqueness na tinatawag,” Castro said.

“Kaya po ito venito [veto]. Hindi naman para po hindi paniwalaan na masarap o maganda ang kultura ng Pampanga pero para po kilalanin ang buong rehiyon, ang bawat rehiyon sa kanilang kagalingan,” she said.

Castro also said that the President’s decision removed the connotation that the region or province is the only possible best food destination for tourists.

“Kung lalabas po na may pipiliin po na isa lamang na rehiyon na parang siya po iyong pinakamasarap, or pinakamagaling, pinakamaganda, baka po maisip ng ibang tao especially iyong mga dayuhan na nais pumunta sa Pilipinas, isiping iisa lang na rehiyon ang maaari nilang puntahan at sasabihing pinakamaganda at pinakamasarap na pagkain na local foods,” Castro said. | PND

The failure of former president Rodrigo R. Duterte to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during his administration culminated in his arrest and eventual transfer to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Netherlands, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

“Hindi nagampanan ng administrasyon ni dating pangulong Duterte iyong pangako, iyong undertaking na sila ay magsasagawa ng pag-iimbestiga at magsasampa ng karampatang kaso,” PCO Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

“Kung mayroon po sigurong dapat sisihin kung bakit nagpatuloy ang ICC, iyon na rin po ay ang dating administrasyon dahil hindi sila agad kumilos sa mga kasong ito na nirereklamo patungkol sa madugong war on drugs,” she said.

In November 2021, the Duterte administration requested the ICC to suspend its investigation into the war on drugs, assuring that it would conduct its investigation and hold accountable those found liable.

In June 2022, before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assumed office, the ICC prosecutor said the Duterte administration fell short in its commitment to undertake an investigation and charge the EJK perpetrators. Castro said that this failure prompted the ICC to resume the inquiry.

Asked to comment on the Marcos administration’s authority to investigate extrajudicial killings, Castro said: “Kaya po nasimulan ang paghi-hearing sa (House of Representatives) Quad Comm (committee). Doon natin nalaman at doon naibulaslas kung ano ba ang nangyari sa panahon ni dating pangulong Duterte.”

Duterte is now in ICC custody in The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity related to his violent war on drugs during his administration. | PND

A visiting senior official of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) praised the Philippines for its global peace and security contributions through Filipino scientists’ high-quality data gathering and scientific monitoring.

“Your colleagues, your people here, they are doing a super job, and they are contributing to global peace and security by [providing] consistent, good, high-quality data which we put together in Vienna,” Robert Floyd, CTBTO executive secretary, told President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during a Palace courtesy call on Tuesday.

“We share it with all 187 states that belong to our treaty, so you are making a material contribution towards the confidence states can have that nobody can cheat,” he said.

Floyd said CTBTO believes the organization has to do everything it can to protect the global norm against nuclear testing during turbulent and uncertain times.

He added that this includes the International Monitoring System (IMS), which spans the globe and has a unique network of monitoring stations and laboratories.

The CTBTO maintains 300 stations, monitoring the shaking of the earth’s crust, ocean and atmosphere sound, and any radioactive materials in the atmosphere.

Keeping the best quality of standard assures every state that if somebody conducted nuclear testing, it would enforce the norm against nuclear detonation, Floyd said.

Floyd was scheduled to visit the IMS stations in Tanay and Tagaytay.

“It does my heart good to meet your technical people and down at the Taal volcano observatory who are doing that work and they’re so proud of it. It was a wonderful thing yesterday to visit them,” he said.

Floyd is in Manila to participate in the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Inter-Sessional Meeting on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (ISM NPD). He will deliver the keynote address during the ARF ISM NPD dinner and present CTBTO’s work.

The Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO was established in 1996, with headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

It is an organization tasked with building up the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) verification regime in preparation for the Treaty’s entry into force and promoting the Treaty’s universality. | PND

Malacañang on Tuesday rejected claims by Harry Roque, former president Rodrigo R. Duterte’s spokesperson, that the government is persecuting him.

“Wala po tayong nakikitang political persecution. Harapin na lang po niya ang kaso niya po dito. Mas maganda po iyan para maipakita niya sa taongbayan na wala po talaga siyang kasalanan,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.

Roque is facing possible criminal prosecution due to evidence linking him to the illegal activities of shuttered Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) operations in the Philippines.

He recently surfaced in The Netherlands to extend legal support to the detained former president. He said he would seek political asylum in the European country following a warrant for his arrest issued by the House of Representatives.

The House wants to arrest Roque for failing to appear in a congressional inquiry on POGO activities in the country.

Castro said the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) had secured evidence linking Roque to illegal POGO operations.

She said the evidence involves Roque’s supposed bank documents at Lucky South 99, the documents of his assistant AR Dela Serna, and papers involving a contract of lease with an alleged manager of Lucky South 99.

Castro also said Roque’s application for political asylum in the Netherlands would not affect the human trafficking case and the arrest warrant by the House.

She said the asylum petition is still being processed, and for it to be approved, Roque has to prove a well-founded fear of political persecution.

Roque has been hiding since September 2024 after the House Quad committee, which launched an inquiry on POGO activities, cited him for contempt for failing to appear at its hearings. | PND

The government will work with the private sector to improve internet connectivity in the country, including a possible partnership with private telecommunications companies.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government was determined to bring Internet infrastructure to remote areas.

“Of course, hindi ganoon kadali ito lalo na sinabi mo nga liblib na lugar so kinakailangan talaga dito ng imprastraktura. Nabanggit din po na tayo ay maaaring makipag-ugnayan/makipag-collaborate sa mga pribadong korporasyon para po maisakatuparan ito,” Castro said.

Castro cited the importance of having reliable internet connectivity to improve people’s lives.

“Nowadays, using the internet is not just a luxury – it’s a necessity. If we can improve the access of all the Filipino people to internet, it will definitely improve the livelihood—not only the livelihood, even the intellectual capacity of every Filipino,” she said.

In the same briefing, Castro cited President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent visit to Eastern Visayas, where he stressed the need for better internet connectivity.

During the recent meeting in Tacloban, the President said the government is developing a new system to improve the country’s internet access in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

“Sa kaniyang pagbisita sa Eastern Visayas nitong Biyernes, sinabi ng Pangulo na sa Bagong Pilipinas, palalakasin ang internet access doon lalo na sa mga liblib na lugar bilang bahagi ng pagsisikap ng gobyerno na mapalawak ang reliable internet connection sa rehiyon,” Castro said.

Castro added the government plans to build additional towers or use satellite connections.

“Tiniyak ng Pangulo ang patuloy na pagsisikap ng kaniyang administrasyon para mapabuti ang pamumuhay sa Eastern Visayas,” Castro said. | PND

Farmers can sell their palay directly to the National Food Authority (NFA) for better prices, Malacañang announced on Tuesday.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro belied reports that rice importation has been depressing domestic palay prices.

In a press briefing, Castro said farmers should coordinate with the local government units (LGUs) to bring these to the NFA buying station.

Citing records from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Castro said the country has recently experienced low rice imports, and local traders may influence current play prices.

Castro also stated that the DA addresses farmers’ concerns about the lack of transport for hauling palay, noting that the agency procures transport vehicles.

The DA is currently conducting a bidding process, and once the trucks are available, farmers will be able to sell palay directly to the NFA, she said. | PND

Malacañang reiterated its warning to the public about the spread of fake news and disinformation, particularly on the arrest of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte by agents of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

In a press briefing on Monday, the Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the PCO is collaborating with law enforcement agencies to run after fake news peddlers.

“Talagang dumarami po ang fake news para po malihis ang katotohanan. Kitang-kita po ninyo, kahit po mismo si dating ES (executive secretary Salvador) Medialdea … nakita po natin kung papaano po ba niya nabanggit na nawawala ang dating Pangulong Duterte,” Castro told reporters.

Castro said that the International Criminal Court (ICC), where the former president is accused of crimes against humanity related to his administration’s violent war on drugs, has belied Medialdea’s claims.

“Dapat po ang tao ay magmasid, mag-isip, at matuto pong mag-evaluate para po hindi po nagugulo ang ating isipan at damdamin,” she said.

During the same briefing, Castro dismissed claims from Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who said that the former president is not receiving adequate medical care while in detention by ICC authorities.

Quoting an ICC judge, Castro said doctors are attending to Duterte. She described his condition as “mentally aware, mentally fit.”

“Kung mayroon pong mga ganitong klaseng haka-haka, muli, katulad ng sinabi ni Senator Bong Go, dapat siguro ay kaniya munang alamin ang katotohanan,” she said.

Castro also described Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s claims of an impending raid on their Davao City residence as “can be a part of fake news.” The Philippine National Police has denied any such impending raid.

As fake news flooded social media, Castro acknowledged the role of the press, particularly the mainstream media, in combating misinformation. She urged the mainstream media to assist the government in containing and fighting fake news and disinformation. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday pledged to improve internet access in Eastern Visayas, especially in remote areas, as part of the government’s efforts to widen reliable connectivity in the region.

President Marcos said the government has developed a new system to enhance internet access in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).

“I took note of the issues on the internet. We have decided on the system that we are going to use for the internet, to distribute to the GIDAs internet service,” President Marcos told a Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting in Tacloban City.

“Basta’t may GIDA na hindi gaano namang kalayo sa fiber optic, puwedeng kabitan. We will put a tower, let’s say regular tower. But there are new technologies that are available that can take advantage of, or can provide internet service kahit na medyo malayo-layo doon sa fiber optic sa mga island na may satellite na,” he added.

The President said that internet service would be different in many ways. New technologies, he said, will be maximized to improve connectivity, especially in the far-flung areas.

Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan lauded the President’s initiative as improved connectivity would significantly benefit the education sector, particularly in the GIDA communities in her province.

“I confirm also for that internet connectivity, especially in the GIDA areas, since it will also help the education sector,” Tan said during the meeting.

“We really want and we really pray na magkaroon ng internet connection ang mga GIDA areas natin.”

In addition to internet connectivity, the council discussed other regional concerns with President Marcos. These included water and electricity supply, infrastructure, and health services.

The President assured the council of his administration’s continued efforts to improve the living conditions of residents in Eastern Visayas. | PND