Malacañang on Monday, April 16, urged netizens to make their concerns known to Facebook, which tapped Rappler and Vera Files as its third-party fact-checkers in its drive against fake news.
“There are those who are complaining that the chosen police of the truth, so to speak, are sometimes partisan themselves,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. said in a Palace press briefing adding “this is the problem with truth that can be subjective depending on your political perspective.”
Secretary Roque mentioned the need for a more impartial arbiter of the truth as he commiserates with netizens who objected to the selection of the two media outlets as Facebook’s partners.
Roque, on the other hand, lauded Facebook’s latest move to get rid of any misleading content posted over the social networking site.
“The effort of Facebook to counter fake news is the solution and not legislation,” Roque stressed.
Palace: safety of Pinoys in Syria a top priority
Meanwhile, Malacañang said the Philippine government is doing all it can to ensure the safety of Filipino nationals in Syria amid the airstrikes in the Middle Eastern country.
“Sa ngayon po, ang number one na binibigyan ng importansya ay ‘yung safety ng ating mga mamamayan na nasa Syria, dahil meron po tayong mahigit kumulang isang libong mga kababayan doon sa Syria,” Roque stated.
The Palace official said the government would soon issue a policy statement on the US-led air strikes in Syria. He clarified, however, that the administration’s priority right now is to secure all Filipinos residing in the war-torn nation.
“We are a member of the United Nations. We know the provisions of Chapter Seven of the United Nations. There is a development on the responsibility to protect. But right now, it’s the safety of our citizens that’s the primordial importance,” Roque stressed.
EO vs. ENDO set to come out in time for Labor Day
More so, Roque announced that the public may expect a finalized version of the Executive Order (EO) against labor contractualization to come out on or before May 1.
“The President wants it as soon as possible,” Roque said. “I would think that they would want a significant EO like this to be issued in connection with another commemoration… recognizing the value of the labor sector in our society, which is Labor Day,” he added.
The Secretary assured that the President remains committed to fulfilling his campaign promise of putting an end to the problem on illegal work contracting.
“I know that the President is rather restive about this EO. He has mentioned to me personally that this is a campaign promise that he wants to deliver to the people very soon,” he said, as he guaranteed that the Order would “side with the labor forces.”
PPA remits highest contribution in 30 years
In the same press briefing, the Spokesperson welcomed news that the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has remitted its highest contribution since 1986.
Roque announced that the attached agency of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) remitted more than P3 billion for 2017, which is 54 percent higher than the recorded remittances of P1.956 billion in the previous year.
“This growth can be attributed to the strong performance of Manila ports including the Manila International Container Terminal, Manila South Harbor, North Port, and 24 other Port Management Offices,” Roque further cited. (PCO-Content)
