By Junex Doronio
MANILA — House Young Guns on Monday (2 December 2024) expressed their support for the proposal of Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers to task the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) with probing vloggers and internet trolls allegedly spreading fake news against Quad Comm leaders and members.
1-RIDER Party-list Representative Rodge Gutierrez and House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, both members of the Young Guns of the House of Representatives, emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of public discourse and addressing organized online disinformation campaigns.
Gutierrez highlighted the growing concern over these efforts and stressed the balance between freedom of speech and accountability.
“It seems to be a concerted effort talaga. While freedom of speech is protected under our Constitution, it has to be tempered with responsible practice and use,” Gutierrez said.
“Kasi when we’re talking about itong vloggers and social media, you have questions of jurisdiction, you have questions of cyberspace, the issue of anonymity. ‘Yun po ‘yung nakakatakot po dito,” he added.
He also pointed out the dangers these campaigns pose to public officials.
“We have congressmen and congresswomen who, whether or not it is related to their function, have been receiving threats. They have been receiving anonymous messages, either death threats or threats to their families. It should be something that no one should be subjected to,” Gutierrez noted.
“Free speech is one thing, but to rely on character assassination is a totally different issue,” he added.
Adiong echoed Gutierrez’s sentiments, emphasizing the role of facts in public discussions.
“I have no problem with people having different opinions and positions. Kasi that’s what democracy is all about,” Adiong said.
“But unfortunately in this kind of online landscape, we’ve seen troll farms, we’ve seen bloggers, hindi ko naman nila-lahat, who are up for grabs. Sometimes they are being used by political propaganda to malign, discredit a certain perceived enemy,” he added.
Adiong highlighted the risk of disinformation in undermining democracy.
“How can you have a populace with informed decisions kung ang binibigay mo sa kanila ay puro mali, fake and misinformation?” Adiong said. “The only way for us to have a healthy space for conversation is to basically agree on facts. Unfortunately, naging subjective ang facts ngayon dahil dun yung karamihan po sa mga trolls, mga troll farms, dinidistort nila ‘yung facts.”
Both lawmakers expressed their support for Barbers’ proposal to protect the public space.
“If it is proven talaga that these sophisticated schemes are being employed to really target congressmen and congresswomen, not for their personality but for that political purpose, then it must be something that should be acted on po talaga,” Gutierrez said.
Adiong added, “We can disagree, but at least disagree on facts. Para sa akin, ako personally, I would support the move of Congressman Chairman Barbers para maprotektahan natin ‘yung magandang espasyo sa pakikipagtalakayan sa publiko.”
Barbers earlier raised concerns about the impact of troll campaigns on House investigations, including those involving illegal drugs and offshore gaming operations, urging swift action from authorities to safeguard public discourse.
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