HOUSE Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur on Tuesday condemned the spread of fake news falsely claiming that the Supreme Court (SC) received a petition for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s resignation, calling it a reckless and desperate attempt to deceive the public and destabilize the government.
Adiong lauded the SC for swiftly debunking the fabricated document and vowed full support for efforts to hold the perpetrators accountable.
“This is a blatant act of deception, meant to sow confusion and disrupt our nation. We will not allow malicious actors to use the Supreme Court as a tool for political sabotage. The law must come down hard on those spreading these lies,” Adiong said.
The SC on Monday denied receiving any such petition and disavowed a circulating document titled “Supreme Court Receives Petition on 16 Million Signatures Calling for President Marcos’ Resignation.”
The high court also rejected claims that it had scheduled an en banc session on the matter, branding the information as entirely false.
The tribunal traced the document’s source to Facebook accounts named “Choose Libungan” and “Bernard Flores Maicon.”
It vowed to impose sanctions on those responsible for spreading disinformation, while urging the public to rely only on official statements.
Adiong warned of the broader consequences of disinformation, as he emphasized the need for stronger penalties against individuals and groups weaponizing social media to spread falsehoods.
“Panahon nang tapusin ang ganitong panlilinlang. Ang kasinungalingan ay may tunay na epekto—nilalason nito ang isip ng taumbayan at ginugulo ang ating bansa. Ang mga nasa likod nito ay dapat managot sa ilalim ng batas,” Adiong said.
Adiong also urged Filipinos to exercise caution in consuming and sharing information online, calling on authorities to intensify efforts against coordinated disinformation campaigns.
“Disinformation is a serious threat to national stability. The public must be vigilant and verify sources before believing or spreading unverified claims. The truth must always prevail over deception,” Adiong pointed out.
He added that the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, remains committed to supporting legislative measures that would strengthen laws against fake news and protect the integrity of government institutions.
“Sa ilalim ng liderato ni Speaker Romualdez, patuloy nating isusulong ang mga batas na magpapalakas sa laban kontra fake news. Kailangang tiyakin natin na hindi magiging kasangkapan ng kasinungalingan ang ating mga institusyon,” Adiong said.
The House, he stressed, will work closely with relevant agencies to ensure that disinformation is curbed and that those responsible are held accountable.
