Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez (PNA file photo)
MANILA – Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cesar Chavez on Monday said truth remains the most important defense to counter propaganda and political blogging.
During the agency's budget hearing at the House of Representatives, Chavez underscored the importance of truthful, factual, relevant accurate, and timely information prevailing in a "free market of ideas".
This was his response when asked by Caloocan City Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy about how to distinguish the blurry line between bloggers and journalists.
"How do we counter political blogging? Truth is still the number one defense, truth is still the number one offense," Chavez said.
While Chavez acknowledged the challenge of political blogging driven by specific agendas, he said such efforts would eventually be isolated.
"We cannot avoid, we cannot control bloggers with a specific political agenda. That is a matter of fact. On their own, they will realize they will be isolated," he said.
Chavez said traditional media remains the "number one producer" of social media content in the country, adding that major media outlets continue like GMA, ABS-CBN, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Manila Bulletin continue to lead in generating digital content.
"Sila pa rin ang pinakamalaking bumubuo ng social media content. Mas maraming na-poproduce ang traditional media na mga digital content (They still create the bulk of social media content. More digital material is still produced by traditional media). Overwhelming majority of content being consumed by our people are not political blogging," he said.
Fighting fake news
Chavez said the PCO will be holding a national information summit on Sept. 27-30 at the Development Academy of the Philippines to discuss three strategic issues: the role of artificial intelligence in media, governance, and local communities; combatting fake news; and the upcoming 2025 national elections.
Chavez also revealed his plan to issue a memorandum circular to designate a “fact-checking officer” in all PCO-affiliated agencies.
“Immediately after I took my oath as Acting Secretary of PCO, I met the Malacañang Press Corps and informed them [about] our initiative. In the next few days, I’ll be issuing a memorandum circular address to all state media that means PTV-4, Philippine Information Agency, Radyo Pilipinas-Bureau of Broadcast Services, the Philippine News Agency, the IBC-13, and the PCO Proper that all of them will designate fact-check officer,” he said.
“A fact check officer or anti-fake news officer will help us that we cannot be an instrument or a purveyor of fake news.”
The PCO chief underscored the need for all state media to be vigilant and take the lead in combating fake news.
“Therefore, institutionally there is going to be fact-check officer in every Radyo Pilipinas, in every Philippine News Agency, in every Philippine Information Agency and state media and PCO,” Chavez said.
According to Chavez, his plans will be executed “in the next few days.”
During the budget hearing, Chavez assured Castro that there is no place for red-tagging in the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Madam Chair, two things. One there is no policy in this government, there is no practice in this government … this government, this Marcos administration government… on red-tagging,” he said. (PNA)
