TACLOBAN CITY — House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre of Tingog party-list group has voiced growing concern over the spread of disinformation on social media, warning that it is gradually eroding public trust in institutions and the nation’s collective sense of truth.
“I think it is incumbent upon Congress to find ways to address disinformation and misinformation, while also protecting the right to freedom of speech and the right to information,” Acidre said in an interview.

The lawmaker emphasized the need to strike a delicate balance between combating false information and safeguarding the public’s right to express criticism and opinions freely.
“We must find a careful balance on how we can address disinformation and misinformation, and at the same time protect individuals’ rights to express grievances or opinions about the government,” he said.

Acidre pointed out that ordinary citizens are among those most affected by the proliferation of false or misleading content online.

While the House tri-committee—comprising the committees on public order and safety, information and communications technology, and public information—has already initiated an inquiry into the matter, Acidre clarified that the effort is not aimed at silencing dissenting voices.

“Clearly, we are not against people speaking up against the government. But we are against those who use these platforms to deliberately destroy the government. That’s very different from responsibly expressing grievances,” he stressed.

(RONALD O. REYES)

ORMOC CITY– A newly identified drug personality landed in jail following a successful buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of the Carigara Municipal Police Station on Tuesday night, April 8.

Police Major Reymund Quinagutan, Carigara chief of police, identified the suspect as alias “Zander,” 47, a laborer and resident of Barangay Baybay of said town.

The operation was carried out around 9:26 pm along the seawall in Barangay Baybay. Undercover operatives were able to purchase a sachet of suspected shabu worth P500 from the suspect. During a subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of mandatory witnesses, police recovered a cigarette pack marked “Chesterfield” from the suspect’s pocket.

Inside the pack were six additional sachets containing a white crystalline substance, also suspected to be shabu, along with the P500 buy-bust money.

Authorities estimated the total weight of the confiscated illegal drugs to be 0.70 grams, with a street value of approximately P4,760, based on Dangerous Drugs Board valuation.
The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and his constitutional rights through the Miranda Doctrine, delivered in a language he fully understood.

The Carigara police have filed charges for violation of Sections 5 (selling) and 11 (possession) of Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The suspect is now detained at the Carigara Municipal Police Station.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine government and migrant rights group Migrante International have renewed warnings for job seekers to beware of fake job offers abroad, especially those found on social media platforms.

The alert follows the recent rescue of over 200 Filipinos from illegal scam hubs in Myawaddy, Myanmar, where they were forced into online fraud operations.

Malacañang Press Officer Claire Castro urged Filipinos to coordinate only with legitimate agencies like the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) when seeking overseas jobs.

Earlier this year, at least 12 other Filipinos were also rescued from Myanmar after being lured through Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Victims were reportedly beaten, electrocuted, and forced to work without pay or rest.

Migrante International leader Garry Martinez praised the government’s swift action but called for stronger monitoring of job ads on social media.

“There should be a dedicated task force to combat online job scams,” Martinez said in an interview, warning that scammers often copy official logos and documents to appear legitimate.

He advised job seekers to always verify offers via the official DMW website or consult trusted contacts abroad.

“No matter how desperate we are, never rush into accepting online job offers,” Martinez added.

According to the Bureau of Immigration, 1,093 human trafficking victims were intercepted in 2024 alone.
(RONALD O. REYES)