A measure imposing heavy penalties on the deliberate spread of false information has drawn sharp criticism from progressive lawmakers, who warned it could become a weapon against political opposition even as its author defended its narrow legal scope.
House Bill 9465, which cleared second reading in the House of Representatives through a voice vote Tuesday, would impose prison terms of six to 12 years and fines reaching P2 million on those found guilty of knowingly disseminating false information with intent to cause harm.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Lordan Suan, the bill’s sponsor, pushed back against fears that it would be used to stifle dissent. “It is carefully directed at conduct involving the knowing dissemination of false information coupled with the intent to cause legally recognized harm,” he said, adding that prosecution requires a “high legal threshold” — specifically, proof that a person deliberately spread falsehoods intending public harm.
Suan said the measure explicitly carves out protections for political opinions, government criticism, satire, journalism, artistic and religious expression, whistleblowing, and public interest advocacy. “Freedom of expression protects ideas, opinions, criticism, dissent, satire, advocacy, and even unpopular views,” he said.
Those assurances did little to satisfy critics. Kabataan Rep. Renee Louise Co raised alarm that the bill’s broad framing opens the door to selective enforcement. “This can be used against critics who do not agree with the narrative of the government,” she said at a media briefing Wednesday, warning that human rights defenders and students could face prosecution — or be chilled into silence by the threat of it. “We are worried because we don’t want this bill to be used against human rights defenders [and] students, and to sow fear for them not to speak up because of the punishment under the proposal,” Co added.
ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio echoed the concern, describing the bill as a potential “additional tool to suppress freedom of expression and especially opposition to those sitting in power.”
Beyond political speech, the bill targets coordinated disinformation operations — including troll farms and foreign-linked influence campaigns — and seeks to regulate the deceptive use of AI-generated and digitally manipulated content designed to mislead the public.
The legislation comes amid growing international concern over false information. A 2024 World Economic Forum report identified disinformation as the most severe global risk over the following two years, warning of its potential to erode public trust in governments, deepen polarization, and widen political divisions.
