Indonesia ends search for

dozens of victims of ferry

sinking
Associated Press / 04:53 PM July 03, 2018

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia on Tuesday ended a search of one of the world’s deepest lakes
for the bodies of dozens of victims of a ferry sinking two weeks ago.

The head of North Sumatra province’s Search and Rescue agency, Budiawan, said the decision was
made after “intense” discussions with the families of victims.
The end of the search operation at Lake Toba was marked with prayers and a groundbreaking
ceremony for a monument that would be inscribed with the names of victims. Weeping relatives
cast flowers into the lake.

The wooden ferry, five times above its passenger limit and also carrying dozens of motorcycles,
sank in the volcanic crater lake on Sumatra in rough weather on June 18.
The full scale of the tragedy took days to unfold as the boat didn’t have a passenger manifest.
Officials at one point said more than 190 people were missing. Their official toll Tuesday was 21
survivors including the boat’s captain, 3 bodies found and 164 people missing, presumed drowned.
Sonar has pinpointed the ferry at a depth of 450 meters (1,476 feet). A remotely operated
underwater vehicle last week captured images of bodies and motorcycles on the lake bed.

Police in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province, said they’re finalizing criminal charges
against five people including the captain and 4 transportation officials.
“They knew the capacity of the ferry Sinar Bangun was only about 40,” North Sumatra police chief
Paulus Waterpau said Monday. “Moreover, as a wooden boat it should not have been allowed to
carry motorcycles,” he said.
Ferry tragedies are common in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, with weak
enforcement of safety regulations often to blame. The Lake Toba sinking was the worst in about a
decade. /ee

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More than 100 PH gov’t
websites down due to hardware
failure — DICT
By: Anthony Q. Esguerra - Reporter / @AEsguerraINQ
INQUIRER.net / 04:45 PM July 03, 2018

More than 100 government websites were down on Tuesday due to a server hardware failure.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) confirmed to
INQUIRER.net that an estimated 100 websites were affected when a six-year-old server that runs
the websites malfunctioned.
DICT expressed confidence that the issue will be resolved before the week ends.

The agency also denied speculations that the government websites were hit by a cyberattack or
were hacked.
“No, our security is physically intact. It’s just a hardware failure,” Assistant Secretary Alan Silor
told INQUIRER.net in Filipino.
Silor said the hardware failure came a week before the department was set to activate a cloud
backup for the websites.
He added that the hardware has reached just reached its maximum lifespan already.
As of publishing time, government websites including president.gov.ph and even dict.gov.ph
cannot be accessed.
However, some sites, including the Department of Foreign Affair’s passport appointment system
are accessible. /vvp

DAP elects new President, 2

other top leaders
By: Anthony Q. Esguerra - Reporter / @AEsguerraINQ
INQUIRER.net / 04:41 PM July 03, 2018
The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) on Tuesday announced the election of lawyer
Engelbert “Jojo” Caronan Jr. as its ninth president.
Caronan’s election came half a year after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered former DAP President
Elba Cruz to vacate her post in December 2017 following reports of alleged frequent travels and
protests from the employees union.
The 45-year-old Caronan was appointed by the President as a member of the DAP board of trustees
in April 2018. He served as mayor of Tuguegarao City from 2014 to 2015.

Meanwhile, Civil Service Commission (CSC) chair Alicia de la Rosa-Bala was elected as DAP
board chair while Office of the President’s Deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration
Mc Jill Bryant Fernandez was elected vice chair.
In December 2017, DAP employees urged the President to replace Cruz, citing alleged
mismanagement of the organization and frequent foreign travels.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1006615/dap-elects-new-president-2-other-top-

leaders#ixzz5KBG6dGX0
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Solving PH’s sanitation

problems should start in homes
— Cynthia Villar
04:29 PM July 03, 2018

Senator Cynthia Villar said solving the country’s problem on sanitation should start in homes, with
families carrying out the “most simple types of sanitation.”

Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said, “Let us
start with ourselves. Let us start with our homes. Each of us should know and learn the value of
hygiene and sanitation.”

–– ADVERTISEMENT ––
In a statement, Villar also said, “Policy makers, development partners, and communities should act
now to improve the current sanitation situation. We should work together to [end] this perennial
problem which has been bogging down the lives of our poor countrymen.”

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1006604/solving-phs-sanitation-problems-

should-start-in-homes-cynthia-villar#ixzz5KBI7QVas
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“Improved sanitation leads to less diseases, improved nutrition, reduced stunting, improved quality
of life, healthier living environments, increased job opportunities and wages, improved
competitiveness, and economic and social gains to society,” she added.
Mangrove planting, clean-up drive
Villar recently led a mangrove planting and clean-up drive in Gasangan, Tondo in Manila to
address the sanitation problem caused the poor solid waste management and open defecation.
She has been spearheading the establishment of sanitation facilities in Baseco, Gasangan together
with the departments of Health (DOH), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR), and Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
They also distributed toilet bowls to Baseco residents.
“Ang mga toilet bowls ay bahagi ng target natin na 5,000 toilet bowls para dito sa Baseco. At
katulad ng dati, ang DoH ang nag-provide ng mga toilet bowls. At ako na sumagot sa unang septic
tank at ang pangalawa naman ay katuwang ko ang Department of Health,” she said.
She also cited the participation of Villar SIPAG, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(BFAR), Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), Metro Manila Development Authority
(MMDA), Maynilad, Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran ng Baseco, and the baranggay officials.
Villar has “adopted” Baranggay 649 in Baseco to expand the livelihood of the residents by turning
the area into an ideal site of urban agriculture and aquaculture. — Syrah Vivien
Inocencio/INQUIRER.net Intern

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should-start-in-homes-cynthia-villar#ixzz5KBIHC2r3
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Burglars force open Laguna
church sacristy, vandalize
sacred items
By: Romulo O. Ponte - Correspondent / @InquirerSLB
Inquirer Southern Luzon / 04:14 PM July 03, 2018

SAN PEDRO CITY – Unidentified men forced open a local church sacristy here and
vandalized religious items.

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sacristy-vandalize-sacred-items#ixzz5KBJ7hun0
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Church leaders of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish in Barangay San Lorenzo Ruiz, have yet to finish
the inventory to identify what items might have been stolen and determine the extent of damage to
their properties.
Ricardo N. Lagac, custodian of the church, said he was about to switch off the church lights when
he noticed the sacristy’s double steel and wooden doors open around 6 a.m.Tuesday.

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sacristy-vandalize-sacred-items#ixzz5KBJBQI00
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Suspected thieves forcibly open the door and cabinets of the sacristy of San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish in
San Pedro City. INQUIRER PHOTO/ROMULO O. PONTE/INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON
SAN PEDRO CITY – Unidentified men forced open a local church sacristy here and vandalized
religious items.

–– ADVERTISEMENT ––

Church leaders of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish in Barangay San Lorenzo Ruiz, have yet to finish
the inventory to identify what items might have been stolen and determine the extent of damage to
their properties.
Ricardo N. Lagac, custodian of the church, said he was about to switch off the church lights when
he noticed the sacristy’s double steel and wooden doors open around 6 a.m.Tuesday.
ADVERTISEMENT

A steel bar was used to open the padlock and doorknob of the wooden door.
All the cabinet doors were also cracked open and valuable items like the sound systems, chalices,
hosts (not consecrated) were vandalized.
Police investigator Loyd Espejon, said his team was trying to access footages of the security
cameras installed around the church to identify the suspected robbers.
Police advised church leaders to be always vigilant and make sure the church entrances were
secured.
About two years ago, the same church was a victim of burglary when the CD player used for
playing religious music was stolen.

Woman ‘dead’ after car crash

found alive in morgue
INQUIRER.net / 05:16 PM July 03, 2018

A woman who was declared dead after a car crash in South Africa was later found breathing in a
morgue fridge.
The unidentified woman met a car accident on June 24, during which she and two other passengers
were thrown out of the vehicle while it rolled over. The paramedics who arrived on the scene in
Gauteng Province pronounced the woman and two others dead when they showed no signs of life,
reports Times Live.
Gerrit Bradnick, operations manager of Distress Alert ambulance services, said the the woman had
“no form of life” including breathing and a pulse. He said the victim suffered from severe injuries
to her body and head.

The bodies from the crash were placed in fridges in Carletonville mortuary. While the staffs were
filling out forms, one of the workers checked on the bodies and found that the woman was
breathing.
The woman has been moved to a hospital east of Johannesburg for recovery, reports BBC.
The Gauteng health department is investigating Distress Alert over the mishap. Bradnick
maintained that there was “no proof of any negligence” by their paramedics. Niña V. Guno /ra
Malacañang calls for ‘ceasefire’
between Duterte, church leaders
By: Nestor Corrales - Reporter / @NCorralesINQ
INQUIRER.net / 04:13 PM July 03, 2018

Malacañang on Tuesday called for a “ceasefire” between President Rodrigo Duterte and some
Catholic Church leaders critical of the chief executive

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the call days before the scheduled meeting of Duterte
and Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Romulo Valles in
Malacañang.

“I think it’s always bilateral. If there is going to be a cessation of hostile language, I think it has to
be from both institutions,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.

Elago wants admission policies

in SUCs probed
By: Pathricia Ann V. Roxas - Reporter / @PathRoxasINQ
INQUIRER.net / 04:10 PM July 03, 2018

Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago filed on Tuesday House Resolution (HR) 1980 which seeks a probe into
the admission and retention policies in state universities and colleges (SUCs) following the
implementation of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education
(UAQTE) Act.

Elago also filed House Resolution 1980 seeking probe into the admission and retention policies in
state universities and colleges following the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality
Tertiary Education (UAQTE) Act. pic.twitter.com/6FT60rLAmv
— Path Roxas (@PathRoxasINQ) July 3, 2018

PUJ drivers ask for provisional

hike
By: Faye Orellana - Reporter / @FMOrellanaINQ
INQUIRER.net / 04:08 PM July 03, 2018

Public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board
(LTFRB) on Tuesday to give them at least a provisional fare hike.

As the petition of the PUJ drivers for a P2 fare increase is still up for resolution, driver groups asked
the board to grant a P1 increase as they wait for the decision.

However, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra said the board has yet to make a final decision on
whether to approve the new petition in a special board meeting.

“We did not decide to grant the provisional increase at least as of today. We will discuss that on a
special board meeting,” Delgra said in an interview shortly after a hearing on PUJ fare hike.
Delgra said the special board meeting will probably be held this week, if not, next week.

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hike#ixzz5KBLfuPc9
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Pre-Sona forum series to discuss

gov’t gains
INQUIRER.net / 03:40 PM July 03, 2018

Amid the public furor over rising prices of goods and a growing concern over the spate of killings in
the country, the Cabinet has organized a series of forum in July to discuss the accomplishments of the
Duterte administration.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the fora, dubbed “Tatak ng Pagbabago,” is a pre-State of
the Nation 2018 campaign, which will allow the six Cabinets clusters “to discuss their respective
policies, programs and projects” and “what they mean for the future of every Filipino.”

Roque said Finance Secretary Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez III and Public Works Secretary Mark
Villar will discuss the economic and infrastructure development under the administration in a forum
called ”Tatak ng Pag-unlad.”

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1006588/pre-sona-forum-series-to-discuss-govt-

accomplishments#ixzz5KBMAfHqM
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RCBC joins the blockchain party

0

BY BEN KRITZ, TMT ON JULY 3, 2018

RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) recently announced it would launch a blockchain-based remittance
service between Japan and the Philippines sometime before the end of the year, a bold step for the bank still
living in the shadow of the still unsolved Bangladesh Bank heist of 2016.

The project is actually a live test by IBM of a blockchain system it’s developing. RCBC is one of 15 banks
worldwide selected for the pilot program. RCBC’s partner on the Japanese end will likely be Resona Bank Ltd.
IBM has enthusiastically embraced the blockchain concept, and is exploring various real-world applications of
the technology. One of its other major projects is a container management system, which it’s developing with
shipping giant Maersk Lines.

What’s appealing about the blockchain application in remittance services is that it eliminates intermediaries,
and most particularly, as RCBC pointed out in earlier comments to the media, the SWIFT messaging system
used for most money transfers between banks. “SWIFT” might be a synonym for “misery” as far as RCBC is
concerned. The system was used to send $81 million in spurious transfers from Bangladesh Bank to RCBC in
February 2016, and mishandling of subsequent SWIFT messages within the bank allowed the conspirators in
the heist time to extract the funds from the accounts where they had landed. Besides, as the unnamed RCBC
official added, the SWIFT service is expensive. Using a faster, more direct blockchain system will allow the
bank to reduce fees it charges for remittance handling.

No details about how the IBM program would work have been disclosed, but it will likely be a relatively simple
system. Money deposited in Japan by a remitter would be credited to an electronic wallet, and a transfer
between that wallet and one belonging to the remitter’s intended beneficiary in the Philippines is carried out.
That transaction is recorded in a block of data in a distributed ledger (i.e., the blockchain) available to everyone
connected to the network. Once confirmed, a process that should only take a few seconds, the recipient can
withdraw the funds here.

DepEd, pumalag sa panukalang

drug test sa grade 4 pupils
Iginiit ni Education Secretary Leonor Briones na hindi basta-basta maaaring sumailalim sa drug test ang mga
estudyante sa antas ng elementarya.

"It has to be on the high school level, hindi iyong grade four. Ang instructions sa akin ni President Duterte ay at the
grade four level ay i-enhance ang curriculum tungkol sa drugs," sabi ni Briones.

"We are very, very careful about this dahil you can destroy a child's life," anang kalihim.

Ito ay matapos ipahayag ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) nitong Huwebes
ang panukalang pagsasagawa ng mandatory drug testing sa lahat ng Grade 4 students pataas at mga guro.

"Iyong mga series of arrests na ginagawa natin, iyong nai-involve ay mga estudyante saka mga teacher. Pinaka-
youngest naming naano [naaresto] is I think 10 years old," sabi ni PDEA director general Aaron Aquino.

Bagaman sinabi ng PDEA na titiyakin nilang magiging pribado ang resulta ng drug test, nagbabala ang Commission
on Human Rights (CHR) na hindi rin ito basta-basta.

"Drug testing will sow terror in schools, will disturb the students and will destroy the sanctity of schools as safe
places of learning. Mandatory drug testing is also a blatant violation of the rights of children and teachers," sabi ni
ACT Philippines secretary-general Raymond Basilio.

Nauna nang bumuo ng ordinansa ang pamahalaang lokal ng Quezon City sa random drug testing sa mga public
secondary, tertiary, vocational, at technical school sa lungsod.

Ipinahayag din noong Lunes ng Commission on Higher Education ang pagnanais ng komisyong maging "drug-free"
ang mga unibersidad at kolehiyo.

Pero ipinauubaya ng komisyon sa mga pamunuan ng mga paaralan kung paano ito ipatutupad.

"Universities by their own nature have the power to institute random drug testing," ani CHED officer-in-charge
Prospero De Vera.

Subalit hindi ito madaling hakbang, ayon sa isang opisyal ng University of the Philippines (UP).

"Being a university, we have to have a nurturing environment na ang tingin natin sa mga kabataan ay mga taong
dapat gabayan," ani Jose "Butch" Dalisay, vice president for public affairs ng UP.

"Kailangan protektahan din natin ang kanilang karapatan," dagdag ni Dalisay.

 Roque: Duterte administration not
behind spread of ‘fake news’
Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jan 31 2018 02:10 PM

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MANILA - Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday stressed that the administration does not sponsor
the spread of "fake news" to advance its agenda.

“For sure and to be clear, fake news as is known today should find no place as a matter of governmental policy.
Enlightened citizens should be able to pick out chaff from grain and appreciate what good journalism is about,”
Roque said in a statement.

He said this as he sought to clarify his statement in his Jan. 8 briefing where he said: “Kung walang fake news, hindi
natin malalaman kung ano iyong true news (If there is no fake news, we will not know what true news is).”

“What I said earlier that without fake news we would not know what is true news should not be taken as
governmental encouragement of fake news. Far from it,” he said.

The administration has been criticized for allegedly using so-called online “trolls” to spread “fake news” aimed at
opposition figures and to intimidate critical voices.

The issue was the subject of a Senate hearing on Tuesday, where press freedom advocates attributed the proliferation
of "fake news" to President Rodrigo Duterte and administration officials.

Rappler CEO Maria Ressa called out the Duterte government’s move of “weaponizing” the internet to silence critics
and spread “fake news” as “patriotic trolling.
____________________________________
Para kay Senador Bam Aquino, panahon na upang gumawa ng batas laban sa fake news at panagutin ang
mga nagkakalat nito – at dapat mas mabigat ang parusa kapag ang gumagawa nito ay opisyal ng
pamahalaan.
“Public servants should be held to a higher standard. May hangganan ang kalayaan. Ito ang dahilan kung
bakit mayroon tayong batas kontra libel at laban sa anumang pagbabanta ng ibang tao,” paliwanag ni
Aquino.
Nagkakaisa ang mayorya at minorya sa Senado na kailangan ng batas para labanan ang pekeng balita.
Kamakailan ay naghain si Sen. Joel Villanueva ng panukalang parusahan ang mga taong nagkakalat ng
pekeng balita.
Lahat ay sang-ayon na dapat maparusahan ang mga nagkakalat ng fake news – sila man ay opisyal ng
bayan o “irresponsible” bloggers.

Pabor din si Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar sa hakbang ng Kongreso na supilin
ang pagkalat ng fake news sa bansa.
Ipinanukala ni Andanar na magdaos ng “media literacy program” upang tulungan ang publiko na matukoy
ang totoo mula sa pekeng impormayon, lalo na sa social media.
“Ako ay pabor sa hakbang ng ating Kongreso, ng ating Senado na kailangan ay matigil na itong fake
news,” ani Andanar sa panayam sa telebisyon kamamailan.
Naniniwala si Andanar na dapat sumunod ang bloggers sa journalism code of ethics. Gayunman nasa
kamay ng mga mambabatas ang pagpapasya sa usaping ito, aniya.
Binigyang-diin naman ni Vice President Leni Robredo na dapat sumunod ang bloggers sa parehong
patakaran na ipinapatupad sa journalists at magkaroon ng sense of accountability.
___________________________________________________________

He said this as he sought to clarify his statement in his Jan. 8 briefing where he said: “Kung walang fake news, hindi
natin malalaman kung ano iyong true news (If there is no fake news, we will not know what true news is).”

MANILA - Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday stressed that the administration does not sponsor
the spread of "fake news" to advance its agenda.

“What I said earlier that without fake news we would not know what is true news should not be taken as
governmental encouragement of fake news. Far from it,” he said.

The administration has been criticized for allegedly using so-called online “trolls” to spread “fake news” aimed at
opposition figures and to intimidate critical voices.

The issue was the subject of a Senate hearing on Tuesday, where press freedom advocates attributed the proliferation
of "fake news" to President Rodrigo Duterte and administration officials.

Rappler CEO Maria Ressa called out the Duterte government’s move of “weaponizing” the internet to silence critics
and spread “fake news” as “patriotic trolling.

“For sure and to be clear, fake news as is known today should find no place as a matter of governmental policy.
Enlightened citizens should be able to pick out chaff from grain and appreciate what good journalism is about,”
Roque said in a statement.
Public officials papanagutin sa fake news
Lahat ay sang-ayon na dapat maparusahan ang mga nagkakalat ng fake news – sila man ay opisyal ng
bayan o “irresponsible” bloggers.

Para kay Senador Bam Aquino, panahon na upang gumawa ng batas laban sa fake news at panagutin ang
mga nagkakalat nito – at dapat mas mabigat ang parusa kapag ang gumagawa nito ay opisyal ng
pamahalaan.
“Public servants should be held to a higher standard. May hangganan ang kalayaan. Ito ang dahilan kung
bakit mayroon tayong batas kontra libel at laban sa anumang pagbabanta ng ibang tao,” paliwanag ni
Aquino.
Nagkakaisa ang mayorya at minorya sa Senado na kailangan ng batas para labanan ang pekeng balita.
Kamakailan ay naghain si Sen. Joel Villanueva ng panukalang parusahan ang mga taong nagkakalat ng
pekeng balita.
Pabor din si Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar sa hakbang ng Kongreso na supilin
ang pagkalat ng fake news sa bansa.
Ipinanukala ni Andanar na magdaos ng “media literacy program” upang tulungan ang publiko na matukoy
ang totoo mula sa pekeng impormayon, lalo na sa social media.
“Ako ay pabor sa hakbang ng ating Kongreso, ng ating Senado na kailangan ay matigil na itong fake
news,” ani Andanar sa panayam sa telebisyon kamamailan.
Naniniwala si Andanar na dapat sumunod ang bloggers sa journalism code of ethics. Gayunman nasa
kamay ng mga mambabatas ang pagpapasya sa usaping ito, aniya.
Binigyang-diin naman ni Vice President Leni Robredo na dapat sumunod ang bloggers sa parehong
patakaran na ipinapatupad sa journalists at magkaroon ng sense of accountability.
“I hope the rules that bind traditional media should be the same rules that bind them,” ani Rodredo sa
isang istasyon ng radio.
Pinuna ng Vice President ang “irresponsible” bloggers na inaabuso ang freedom of speech, na ginagamit
ito bilang lisensiya sa pagkakalat ng mga kasinungalungan.
Ayon kay Robredo, ilang beses nang nabiktima ng fake news, unfair para sa traditional media na ma-
discredit dahil sa bloggers.
“The blogs that we see, it is as if they are saying traditional media is lying,” ani Robredo.
“And it is also wrong because they think they are not bound by rules like you are, they think they can say
anything,” dagdag niya. – Leonel M. Abasola, Genalyn D. Kabiling at Raymund F. Antonio
Sa halos limang taon na karanasan ko bilang manunulat at editor sa mga online news
websites na nakabase sa Estados Unidos, ang salitang “fake news” (o pekeng balita sa
wikang Filipino) ay hindi na bago. Ngunit ang salitang ito ay malimit na ginagamit dahil
mahirap ang magparatang na ang isang pahayagan o website ay naglalathala ng mga
pekeng balita, hanggang noong kasagsagan ng 2016 Presidential Elections sa Estados
Unidos.

Sa aking personal na karanasan, tila’y pangkaraniwan na ang mga artikulong “hoax” lamang
o di kaya’y satirikal na pagbabalita. May iilan ding pawang mga tsismis o haka-haka lamang,
lalo na sa mga balita tungkol sa mga artista. At karamihan sa mga ito ay mabilis na
kumakalat sa online media, gaya na lamang sa paglaganap ng mga “fake news” sa buong
mundo.

Kahit na ang salitang “fake news” ay hindi na bago, ito ay hindi popular na ginagamit.
Marahil ang iilan ay nagtataka kung paano, kailan at saan nagsimula ito at bakit ang
salitang ito ay biglang sumikat.

Ano nga ba ang ‘Fake News’?

Ang “fake news” ay itinuturing na isang uri ng dilaw na pamamahayag (“yellow journalism”)
o propaganda na binubuo ng mga mali o mapanlinlang na mga impormasyon na kumakalat
sa pamamagitan ng tradisyonal na paglathala o pagsahimpapawid (pagbrodkast) ng news
media o online social media. Ito ay isang neolohismo na tumutukoy sa peke o gawa-gawang
balita na walang basehan ngunit inilalathala bilang totoo o tunay.

Ang mga pekeng balita na isinulat at inilathala ay kadalasang naglalayong kumita ng

malaking halaga o magkaroon ng pampulitikang benepisyo sa pamamagitan ng sensasyonal,
eksaherada at malinaw na maling pamagat ng mga balita na nakaaagaw-pansin o ang
tinatawag na “clickbait headlines” sa Ingles. Dahil marami ang nakakabasa sa mga pekeng
balita, pinapahina nito ang mga mahahalagang media coverage at nagpapahirap sa mga
mamamahayag na masakop ang mga makakabuluhang kwento ng balita.
Uri ng ‘Fake News’

Ayon kay Claire Wardle ng First Draft News, ang “fake news” ay mayroong pitong uri —
pangungutya o parodya (satire or parody), maling koneksyon (false connection),
nakakalinlang na nilalaman ng balita (misleading content), maling nilalaman (false content),
huwad na nilalaman (imposter content), dinayang nilalaman (manipulated content) at
kathang-isip na nilalaman (fabricated content).

Batay sa paglalarawan ni Wardle, ang satire o parodya ay tumutukoy sa mga balitang

walang layunin na maminsala ngunit may potensyal na manlinlang o manloko, habang ang
maling koneksyon ay tumutuloy sa mga balita na ang titulo o ang mga nakikitang pamagat
ay hindi tumutugma sa mga nilalaman. Ang nakakalinlang na nilalaman, sa kabilang dako,
ay tumutukoy sa mapalinlang na paggamit ng impormasyon upang ibalangkas ang isang
isyu o indibidwal.

Ang maling nilalaman naman ay tumutukoy sa mga balita na may tunay na nilalaman ngunit
ito ay ibinabahagi sa hindi tamang konteksto ng impormasyon, habang ang huwad na
nilalaman ay tumutukoy sa uri ng pekeng balita kung saan ang mga huwad na pinagmulan
o source ay nagpapanggap bilang mga tunay na pinagmulan ng kuwento. Ang dinayang
nilalaman ay tumutukoy naman sa pagmanipula ng mga tunay na impormasyon o larawan
upang manlinlang at ang kathang-isip na nilalaman ay 100 porsiyentong bagong
impormasyon na walang katotohanan at isinulat para manlinlang o manloko at maminsala.

Ang Simula ng ‘Fake News’

Ang pagbaluktot sa katotohanan para sa pampulitikang pakinabang ay tiyak na hindi na

kapani-panibago. Sa katunayan, ito ay isang propaganda, at ang talaan ng mga gamit o
paggamit nito ay bahagi na ng kasaysayan ng mundo.

Dahil sa “mass communication,” ang propaganda ay lalong lumago at ang mapang-akit na

kapangyarihang nito ay lalong lumakas sa panahon ng

mga kaguluhan ng ika-20 siglo sa pamamagitan ng mga serye ng ideolohiyang pakikibaka.
At dahil sa pag-usbong ng makabagong teknolohiya, ang propagandang ito ay ginamit nang
walang humpay sa lahat ng panig ng kabuuang espektro ng media.

Ayon sa The Telegraph, ang ganitong uri ng propaganda ay pinopondohan at kinokontrol ng

mga gobyerno. Ngunit, ang hayagang pagkiling na dala nito ay lumulubog habang ang mga
ideolohiyang pakikibaka ay naging di-gaanong malinaw. Dagdag pa riyan, dahil ang mga
populasyon ay naging sanay sa paggamit ng pangmasang komunikasyon, mas madali nilang
makita ito.

Ang Pagsibol ng Ekonomiya ng ‘Fake News’

Ang ekonomiya ng pekeng pagbabalita o “fake news” ay lalong lumago at lumaganap dahil
sa madaling pag-access ng “online advertisement revenue,” paglaki ng pampulitikang
polariseysyon, at ang kantanyagan ng social media, lalo na ang Facebook News Feed. Ang
mga “fake news” ring ito ay naging ugat ng kumpetisyon para sa mga lehitimong pahayagan
at balita.

Pagdating sa pagbuo at pagpapalaganap ng mga ito, nasasangkot ang mga magkalaban o

magkasalungat na mga gobyerno o partido, lalo na sa panahon ng halalan. Sa katunayan,
ang kaugnayan at kahalagahan ng mga pekeng balita ay lalong dumami sa “post-truth
politics.” Bilang tugon sa paglaganap ng mga “fake news,” ang mga mananaliksik ay
nagsiyasat para bumuo ng sikolohikal na panlunas upang tulungan ang mga tao na tumuklas
ng mga pekeng balita.

Dahil sa paglawak ng makabagong teknolohiya, ang pangangailangan para sa mga “page

views” at rating ay lalong tumaas. Para sa mga media outlets, ang kakayahang maakit ang
mga magbabasa sa kanilang mga website ay isang pangangailangan upang ikalugod ng
mga advertisers na nagbabayad para sa mga patalastas sa kanilang mga website. Kung ang
paglathala ng isang kuwento na may maling nilalaman ay makagawa ng isang malaking
pamagat at makaakit ng mga magbabasa, ang paggawa ng mga ito ay may halaga upang
pakinabangan ang mga advertiser at ratings.

2016 US Presidential Elections

Kung ating siyasatin nang mabuti, ang salitang “fake news” ay lumabas sa mga talakayan
ng media at sa mainstream nang paratangan ni Donald Trump ang CNN at The New York
Times na naglalathala ng mga pekeng balita habang nagtatalumpati sa kanyang kauna-
unahang press conference bilang pangulo ng Estados Unidos. Simula noon, naging popular
na ang paggamit sa salitang “fake news” at palaging tinatawag ni Trump ang pansin ng mga
pangunahing media outlet para sa pagiging peke ng kanilang mga binabalita sa
pamamagitan ng kanyang Twitter account.

Ang paglaganap ng “fake news” noong 2016, gayunpaman, ay may malaking pagkakaiba sa
mga propagandang lumabas noong ika-20 siglo. Sa katunayan, karamihan sa mga pekeng
balita na nailalathala ay tungkol sa isang pangunahing pangyayari o kaganapan lamang at
ito ay ang halalan noong 2016 sa Pilipinas at Estados Unidos. Sinamantala ng maraming
grupo ang mga interaksyon sa social media at algorithm tungkol sa kaganapang ito sa
pamamagitan ng pagbuo o pagsulat ng mga hayperbolikong artikulo.

Kung may kaibahan, ang “fake news” at propagandang pampulitika ay may pagkakatulad
rin. Dahil sila ay parehong paraan ng pagbaluktot ng katotohanan para sa emosyonal na
panghihikayat upang humimok ng pagkilos.

Paglaganap ng ‘Fake News’ sa Pilipinas

Dahil sa paglaganap ng “fake news” sa Pilipinas at sa mainit na argumento tungkol sa

isang blog, ang mga senador ay nagpatawag ng pagpupulong at imbestigasyon ukol dito.
Ang debateng ito ay may kaugnayan sa Senate Resolution 516, kung saan hinihimok nito
ang pamahalaan na itigil ang EJK o extra-judicial killings, lalo na sa mga menor de edad.

Ngunit, isang blog ang inilathala na tumuturing sa pitong senador na hindi nakapirma sa
nasabing resolusyon bilang mga “Malacañang Dogs.” Kabilang sa mga senador na
pinangalanan sa blog ay sina Senador Koko Pimentel, Manny Pacquiao, Tito Sotto, Richard
Gordon, Gringo Honasan, Miguel Zubiri at Cynthia Villar.

Sa pangunguna ng tagapangulo ng Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass

Media na si Senadora Grace Poe, siniyasat ng komite ang paglaganap ng mga maling
impormasyon noong Okt. 3, laso na sa social media at paano matigil ito. Ayon sa CNN
Philippines, iginiit ni Poe ang pangangailangan na suriin ang mga batas na napasa na, gaya
ng batas sa libelo o paninirang-puri.
Sa pagdinig ng senado, sina Senador Antonio Trillanes IV at Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan ay
nagpasa ng tatlong resolusyon para imbestigahan ang mga pekeng balita. Habang si
Senador Joel Villanueva ay nagpasa ng panukalang batas na magpaparusa sa malisiyosong
pamamahagi ng mga mali o pekeng balita.

Kultura ng Kasinungalingan

Sa panahon ng pagdinig sa senado tungkol sa “fake news,” hindi maikubli ni Senador Poe
ang kanyang pagkabahala sa paglaganap ng mga mapanlinlang na balita at pekeng
impormasyon, na kung hindi siyasatin ay maglilinang ng kultura ng pagsisinungaling.
Dagdag pa ni Poe, ang “fake news” ay ang “e-version” ng budol-budol, kung saan marami
ang nabibiktima at maaaring pagmulan ng kaguluhan.

“Kung ang pekeng balita ay hindi hinahamon, ito ay lilikha ng ‘lynch mobs’ sa ilang mga tao
na nagiging mga hukbo ng mga assassin ng character na maaaring magpalaganap ng
isang meme upang sirain ang isang ideya, isang tao o isang institusyon,” sabi ni Poe, na
binanggit ng Philippine Star. “Kung ang mga tagapamahala ay pinahihintulutan na makalaya
sa kanilang mga kasinungalingan, pinalalakas nila ang mga opisyal ng pamahalaan na
magsinungaling upang makatakas sa pananagutan, durugin ang hindi pagsang-ayon at
gumawa ng mga iligal na kilos nang walang pahintulot.”

Panukalang Batas Laban sa ‘Fake News’ Hindi Ipapasa?

Kahit na maraming mambabatas ang sumasang-ayon sa pagkontrol sa paglaganap ng mga

pekeng balita, iniulat ng ABS-CBS News na hindi masigasig ang senado at si Pangulong
Rodrigo Duterte sa pagpasa ng panukalang batas laban sa mga “fake news.” Ayon sa
pangulo, ang paggawa ng isang batas upang magtakda ng isang pamantayan ay hindi niya
pahihintulutan dahil ito ay “censorship.”

Dagdag pa ni Duterte, mas maigi raw na magpanukala ang mga mambabatas at senador ng
batas na nagpapataas ng multa o kapurusahan para sa slander at libelong kaso. Ang mga
komento ng presidente ay sinang-ayunan rin ni Poe.

Sinabi rin ng pangulo na wala din tayong magagawa kung ang intensyon ng pagkakalat ng
balita ay manlinlang lamang dahil tayo ay isang demokratikong bansa. Habang iginiit ni Poe
na hindi layuin ng pagdinig ukol sa pekeng balita na sugpuin ang kalayaan ng mga
mamamayang Pilipino sa pagsasalita o pagpapahayag, batay sa ulat ng Inquirer.

Limitasyon sa Kalayaan sa Pagsasalita at Pagpapahayag

Sa kabila ng maiinit na debate kaugnay sa paglaganap ng mga pekeng balita, binigyang-diin

ni Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III na mahirap ang magpanukala ng batas
laban sa “fake news” dahil mahirap tukuyin ang tunay na ibig sabihin ng salitang ito. Ngunit
para kay Senador Bam Aquino, ang kalayaan sa pagsasalita at pagpapahayag ay hindi
ganap o lubos at ito ay may mga limitasyon at mga parametro.

Sabi pa ni Aquino, karapat-dapat na parusahan ang mga opisyal ng gobyerno na

nagpapakalat ng mga pekeng balita. Dagdag pa niya, kailangan ng Pilipinas ang isang
malinaw na patakaran sa mga alintuntunin ng pakikipag-ugnayan sa online platforms.

Ang paglaganap ng “fake news” online ay nagdulot ng maraming kaguluhan at di-

pagkakaunawaan sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng mundo. Ayon sa kahilim ng Kagawaran ng
Komunikasyon na si Martin Andanar, mahalaga ang “public education” upang matigil ang
paglaganap ng mga pekeng balita. Ngunit kung ikaw ang tatanungin, ano nga ba ang
pinakamainam na solusyon para ditto?

“The views and opinions of the writer/s do not necessarily express the views and opinions of
the site, organization, the management or the editor.”