Sky Cartaño 

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) vowed that it will take action to prevent misinformation in line with the case of former president Rodrigo Duterte on the International Criminal Court’s (ICC). 

Photo Courtesy of Presidential Communications Office/France 24.

PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro stated that the spread of fake news involving the arrest of Duterte is rampant, which includes false information circulating about the situation involving First Lady Liza Marcos. 

"This is very obvious that more fake news is lingering maybe because of the present situation regarding the arrest of former president Duterte," Castro stated at a press conference in Malacañang on Monday. 

She pointed out that the PCO will provide live discussions with relevant authorities to counter misinformation and address relevant issues. 

“We are taking steps; like what we had last week, we had this live discussion with the concerned authorities to answer all those issues that had been raised by some people from the mainstream and also from social media,” Castro added with regards to countering misinformation.

The PCO confirmed that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will coordinate on preventing misinformation. 

Castro also stated that former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea had been involved in the spread of misinformation about Duterte’s arrest. She clarified that the ICC contradicts statements in which Medialdea mentioned. 

During the hearing on Sunday, March 16,  Medialdea explained that Duterte is not being detained at the Hague Penitentiary Institution but was refuted by ICC spokesperson, Fadi El Abdallah.