LP Thanks Andanar for Telling Pro Duterte Websites, Supporters to Stop Fake News, Hate Posts

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar met with some supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as pro-Duterte website owners and bloggers, and told them to stop posting hate speech and fake news. With this, the Liberal Party (LP) thanked him for following Senator Bam Aquino’s request.

“Would you be willing to talk to owners of these websites, a number of them carrying President Duterte’s name, and convince them to stop spreading misinformation, disinformation and hate speech against critics of the President,” Sen. Bam Aquino asked Andanar during the Senate committee hearing on fake news last Tuesday.

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“Iyong batikos walang namang problema. Iyong kritisismo wala ring problema. Pero kapag humahantong na sa peke, sa panloloko o sa mararahas na pananalita, sana magkaisa tayo na itigil na ito,” He added, noting that criticisms are acceptable. But then, he noted that they are times they are considered as fake news and hurting words.

“Maraming supporter si Presidente na may kanya-kanyang Facebook pages. Hindi po sila under ng PCOO. Hindi ko po kilala yung mga may-ari ng pages na yun. Pero I can certainly ask around kung kilala nila yung mga may-ari ng pages na ito.” Andanar told Aquino, in front of PCCO Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, who is also a pro-Duterte blogger.

On the other hand, Andanar showed a slide of blog posts by Jover Laurio, the blogger behind Pinoy Ako Blog (PAB). The title is "Bong Go, hindi lang selfie king,” which implicated that Go intervened in a frigate deal of the Philippine Navy. As defense, the staunch supporter of the Liberal Party (LP) said that her post are not fake news.

Meanwhile, LP said it is grateful to Andanar’s effort to stop the spreading of hate speech and fake news from Duterte supporters. In an ambush interview this Friday, LP President and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said he has received reports that Andanar met with some pro-Duterte bloggers and supporters on Thursday.


“Ang nakarating sa akin, nag meeting sila kahapon pero di nabanggit kung sino ang mga nandun. Ang sabi lang, si Sec. Andanar daw ang nag preside ng meeting. Ganunpaman, kami sa LP ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa kanya. Sana nga ay sumunod sila at magtulong-tulong tayo para umunlad na ang bayan natin.” He said.

Contributed by Renato Pasayao