THE House of Representatives-approved anti-disinformation bill will undergo further refinement during the legislative process to strengthen protections for journalists and legitimate media organizations.
House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos said the active participation of journalists and media groups would help ensure that the measure includes sufficient safeguards against its possible use to suppress legitimate reporting, criticism, or dissent.
‘I have always been a staunch supporter of the media. I always have been of the belief that the media is there to provide a check, to provide part of the checks and balances of government officials,’ he said.
He gave the assurance on Monday following concerns raised over the proposed Digital Media Anti-False Information Act, which is expected to undergo Senate scrutiny after its approval by the House of Representatives.
The measure seeks to address the growing spread of false information online, which lawmakers have identified as a threat to public safety, democratic institutions, and informed public discourse. At the same time, it aims to uphold constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
‘Those concerns are actually very valid, and I understand that it might be misconstrued as something to do with censorship or using the bill to weaponize the media,’ Marcos said.
While acknowledging the concerns raised by various sectors, Marcos maintained that these should be addressed by introducing stronger safeguards rather than abandoning the proposed legislation.
‘So that is not my intention at all. But I can understand how that can be interpreted,’ he said.
He encouraged journalists and media organizations to participate actively in the Senate deliberations and amendment process to ensure that adequate protections are incorporated into the bill.
‘I think what’s important is to have necessary media participation in order for those safeguards to at least, if not there already, at least be introduced either in the Senate version or during the period of amendments,’ Marcos said.
He emphasized that the proposal is intended to confront the growing problem of false information online while respecting the indispensable role of a free and independent press.
‘We are not here to censor anyone,’ he said.