A new bill filed in the House of Representatives aims to penalize the deliberate creation and spread of fake news with up to 12 years in prison and fines of up to ₱2 million.
Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez, the bill’s principal author, underscored the growing threat of disinformation, especially on digital platforms. He emphasized that while the Constitution protects free speech, the Supreme Court has long upheld that this freedom has limits.
“Certain categories of speech – such as obscenity, defamation, incitement to violence, false advertising, and speech that poses a clear and present danger to public order or national security – are not entitled to constitutional protection,” Rodriguez said.
Under House Bill 11506, or the proposed Anti-Fake News and Disinformation Act, actions such as knowingly creating or spreading false information, running or funding troll farms, and disseminating fake news meant to incite violence or destabilize democratic institutions would be considered criminal offenses.
Rodriguez, a former law school dean, argued that existing laws like the Revised Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act fall short in addressing the evolving dangers of disinformation. “These falsehoods, often disseminated at scale through social media or synthetic content like deepfakes, have the power to incite confusion, manipulate public perception, and provoke civil disorder,” he added.
The bill makes clear that satire, parody, personal opinions, honest mistakes, and reporting made in good faith will not be penalized. It also includes judicial safeguards such as access to legal remedies and appellate review to avoid abuse of the law.
“By striking a balance between protecting freedom of expression and addressing the dangerous consequences of intentional disinformation, this measure affirms the values of both liberty and responsibility in a modern, democratic society,” Rodriguez stressed.
If passed, violators could face imprisonment of six to twelve years and a fine ranging from ₱500,000 to ₱2 million.
