Lawmaker lauds arrest of Cebu-based vlogger over fake news
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — House Assistant Majority Leader and Taguig City 2nd District Rep. Pammy Zamora on Sunday lauded the arrest of a Cebu-based vlogger for allegedly spreading fake news.
Wendelyn Magalso, a 30-year-old vlogger from Oslob town in Southern Cebu, was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Central Visayas Regional Office last Thursday, March 20.
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“This case is a stark reminder that freedom of expression is not freedom to deceive,” Zamora said in a statement.
“May hangganan ang pagiging ‘content creator,’ lalo na kung ginagawa mo ito para manira, magpakalat ng kasinungalingan, at kumita mula sa panloloko. Kung pipiliin mong magkalat ng fake news, may kapalit iyan,” Zamora added.
The NBI said Magalso altered a post by TV5 and inserted fabricated quotes of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. She captioned the social media post about illegal drugs now being legal.
Zamora said mimicry of the president or any legitimate news outlet is not a form of opinion, but deception.
“Kailangan nating turuan ang kabataan kung paano kilalanin ang totoo sa peke. At para sa mga sadyang gumagawa ng fake news, tandaan ninyo—mahahabol kayo ng batas,” she said.
READ: Vloggers apologize to lawmakers for spreading false claims
(We need to teach the youth how to distinguish truth from falsehood. And for those who deliberately create fake news, remember— the law will catch you.)
Magalso is facing charges for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. If convicted, she could face imprisonment of six months and one day to six years, and a fine of P40,000 to P200,000.
