The Lower House has clarified the circulating Twitter post with the official seal of the House of Representatives on plans to declare martial law by using the current public health crisis as basis to justify declaration came from a fake account.
“It has come to our attention that the Twitter account @house_files has been posting false information on the COVID-19 crisis, using the official seal of the House, and directly messaging users to deliberately cause panic, fear, and confusion,” HoR Secretary General Atty. Jose Luis Montales explained.
“These acts clearly violate Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act of 2020 and Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012,” he added.
Montales said they have been coordinating with authorities to know who is behind the Twitter account.
Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin pointed out that there are laws to address those kinds of posts, and believes in the importance of transparency and proper information dissemination as a tool to stop fake news and fear mongers.
Meanwhile, IATF Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles dismissed the circulating rumors on martial law.
“Is martial law an option? Hindi natin pinag-uusapan ang martial law so hindi yan pinag-uusapan ngayon (We’re not discussing martial law, it’s not being discussed now),” Nograles clarified.
He added the government will not allow those who will create chaos and will take advantage of the present situation.
“Napaka-importante po para kay Pangulong (It is very important for President) Duterte to keep the peace and order specially in this time,” he said. – Report from Daniel Manalastas
