Palace: Tracking fake news vloggers overdue

MANILA, Philippines — Tracking down overseas Filipino fake news vloggers should have been addressed sooner by the government, according to Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro.

Thanking the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for seeking to coordinate with the Interpol to root out fake news purveyors, Castro said “it should have been done earlier.”

“Fake news vloggers are increasing and this should have started before,” she said yesterday.

The NBI’s decision follows a massive eruption of pro-Duterte disinformation seeking to undermine President Marcos.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and turned over to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity stemming from his bloody war on drugs.

On Monday, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said tax evasion charges, among others, could be filed against fake news purveyors abroad.

The NBI, he said, can request Interpol aid to extradite people spreading disinformation.