In a bold move to clamp down on the rising tide of fake news, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has formed a powerful new task force. On Friday, they unveiled the Joint Anti-Fake News Action Committee (JAFNAC), a coalition drawing from various government agencies. Their mission? To stop the spread of false information at its root—and go after those profiting from it.
PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil did not mince words. “We want to stop lahat ang nagpapa-spread ng fake news, kasama na ‘yung financial side,” he declared in a candid ambush interview. His message was clear and firm: “Let us choose truth over virality. Accuracy over exaggeration. Integrity over convenience.” Then came a sharp warning to the notorious ‘marites’—the relentless rumor mills of social media and neighborhoods alike. “Nabibilang na ang araw niyo.”
The new committee promises a no-nonsense crackdown. JAFNAC aims to hold purveyors of fake news accountable through swift legal actions and a strong framework to remove false content online. But this fight isn’t just a police operation—it’s a government-wide campaign combining legal muscle, cutting-edge technology, and public education.
PNP stressed the urgent need to update and create laws that can effectively target fake news. They also revealed plans for a national monitoring system powered by artificial intelligence—a dashboard that can spot and track disinformation in real time.
Collaboration with big tech players like Meta, Google, X, and TikTok is also on the horizon. The goal: to flag harmful content quickly and enforce platform rules locally, making sure that the spread of lies meets firm resistance both online and offline.
The PNP’s message is unmistakable: the era of fake news spreading unchecked is coming to an end. The battle for truth starts now.