STOP FAKE NEWS. Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez (from left), Department of Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida and Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda raise “stop fake news” banners after signing a memorandum of agreement at the Department of Justice in Manila on Monday (April 13, 2026). The MOA strengthens the whole-of-government approach against the proliferation of online disinformation.
(PNA photo by Ben Pulta) MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Presidential Communications Office and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for a coordinated and whole-of-government response against the deliberate manufacture and spread of false information and media. Secretaries Frederick Vida of DOJ, Dave Gomez of PCO and Henry Aguda of DICT signed the MOA at the DOJ office in Manila, formalizing an inter-agency framework to protect public safety and national security from malicious information operations and to ensure a safer, more resilient cyber environment. Under the agreement, the PCO will lead information dissemination, the DOJ will handle legal enforcement and the DICT will provide technological support and monitoring systems.
READ: Move swiftly vs fake news, Malacañang tells Meta Gomez said the MOA is part of a broader directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen efforts against disinformation.
“We are here to fight for the truth against falsehood. Our war on fake news is about protecting the public’s right to accurate information and holding accountable those who spread lies,” he said. On March 3, the PCO launched Oplan Kontra Fake News and signed a memorandum of understanding with the publishers and editors of the nine national broadsheets in the country.
“(T)oday, the PCO, DOJ and DICT are joining forces to establish a unified framework against fake news, online disinformation, AI-generated deepfakes, and digitally altered media. Hindi tayo narito para manahimik — narito tayo upang ipaglaban at pagtagumpayin ang katotohanan laban sa kasinungalingan (We are not here to remain silent — we are here to fight and make truth triumph over lies),” Gomez said. “Filipinos deserve better.
They deserve information they can believe and trust. Hindi lang ito kasunduan sa papel — mito ay matibay na pangako: kailanman, hindi magpapasakop ang mga Pilipino sa kasinungalingan (This is not just a piece of paper but a solid promise: never will the Filipino allow themselves to be dominated by lies),” he added. Gomez urged his colleagues in the media not to be just spectators in the fight against fake news.
“You are our most important partners. Your reporting, your verification, your courage in calling out falsehoods — these remain our strongest weapons,” he said. For his part, Vida said the agreement marks a “pivotal step” in protecting the country from the growing threat of digital disinformation.
READ: DICT to Meta’s Zuckerberg: Boost safeguards vs fake news online “We now live in an era where digitally mediated falsehoods, from misinformation and disinformation to sophisticated deepfakes, have emerged as potent weapons against national stability,” Vida said. He warned that such content could erode public trust, create division, and trigger confusion, especially during critical situations. “The Philippines cannot afford to ignore these threats,” he said.
“We draw a firm line between criminal disinformation and protected speech, ensuring that freedom of expression and the press remain inviolable. ” Aguda said the whole-of-government approach is crucial in combating sophisticated threats, including those driven by artificial intelligence. “Hindi na ito simpleng tsismis.
Ngayon, kasinungalingan can look real (This is no longer just a rumor. Now, lies can look real),” Aguda said, referring to the rise of deepfakes. He said the DICT will focus on cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and coordination with technology platforms, as well as tools that allow citizens to report false content.
Aguda also stressed that the campaign is not intended to suppress free speech but to address deliberate deception that harms the public. “Information today is as powerful as a weapon. Misinformation can cause panic, distort decisions, and weaken trust in institutions,” he said.
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