DUTERTE GOV'T MULLS FORMING OWN SOCIAL MEDIA FACT-CHECKING TEAM

DUTERTE GOV'T MULLS FORMING OWN 

SOCIAL MEDIA FACT-CHECKING TEAM

The Philippine government could soon have its own fact-checking team.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque raised the possibility after President Rodrigo Duterte called out Facebook after the social media giant took down several propaganda networks in support of the administration.

The move did not sit well with the popular 75-year- old leader, who won in 2016 with the help of a strong social media campaign.

"Ang punto dito bakit kapag pabor sa gobyerno tinatanggal? Kapag pabor sa oposisyon hindi tinatanggal?" Roque said in a Palace press briefing on Tuesday.

The Palace mouthpiece questioned Facebook's partnerships with local media outfits Rappler and Vera Files as fact-checkers, saying the social media giant only tapped those who are critical of the Duterte administration.

"Ang iba't-ibang mga bansa ngayon, nagsisimula na 'yung proseso na gobyerno na ang kumukuha ng fact-checkers... Pag-aaralan po natin kung dapat gawin na natin 'yan dahil hindi naman tayo makakapayag na ang fact-checkers ay tanging mga laban lamang sa gobyerno," Roque said.

Both Rappler and Vera Files have received certification from the International Fact-Checking Network.

Roque clarified that the President only wants to talk to Facebook and is not after banning the social media platform, which enjoys a wide user base among Filipinos.

"Ang sinasabi ni Presidente, pag-usapan 'yan dahil pareho naman sila ng sinusulong ang karapatan ng malayang pananalita at malayang merkado ng mga ideya," he said. (via ABS-CBN)

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