Sen. Bam Aquino believes that government officials acting as source or spreading fake news should be meted with a heavier penalty, saying they should be more responsible for their statements as public servants.

“Panahon na para gumawa ng batas para sa fake news at panagutin ang mga nagkakalat nito, lalo na kung sila ay tauhan ng pamahalaan. Dapat lang na mas mabigat ang parusa sa mga lingkod bayan na nagkakalat ng pekeng balita,” said Sen. Bam.

“Public servants should be held to a higher standard,” he added.

During the Senate hearing on fake news, Sen. Bam said both majority and minority senators agreed to fight fake news through legislation. Sen. Joel Villanueva recently filed a measure aimed at punishing persons spreading fake news, including government officials 

“Freedoms have limits  May hangganan ang kalayaan. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit mayroon tayong batas kontra libel at laban sa anumang pagbabanta ng ibang tao,” explained Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam also called as “premature” the pronouncement of President Duterte that no law against fake news will passed during his term.

“Premature pa iyan. Kasi kaka-hearing pa lang natin, at sa totoo rin lang, marami pang mag-e-engage dito sa batas para mas mapayaman ito. So tingnan natin kung saan ito pupunta,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam also stressed that it’s high-time that platform and netizens behind the spread of fake news, misinformation and black propaganda online should be punished.

 “Panahon na rin sa ating bansa na magkaroon ng ganyang rules dito,” said Sen. Bam, adding that this legislation could help create clear rules of engagement for social media.