There was a time when it was difficult to know what exactly was happening. One had to try really hard to get anything from the media, or official sources. People had to wait for days before any information from critical places could come out.
These days, the opposite is true. Because the flow of information is facile, it is easy to believe we know what is going on even in places we would normally do not have access to.
Unfortunately, it is also easy for ignorance, laziness and downright malice to get the better of those who consume or pass on information to others.
Take the newly appointed assistant secretary for social media, Margaux Uson, who is an influential blogger and social media personality—if the measure of influence were solely the number of followers.
Uson, who said her mandate was to stop the spread of fake news, shared a photo of soldiers kneeling, likely in prayer, at the height of fear and uncertainty over what is happening in Marawi City. The photo was from the page of CinEmotion Digital Films. Uson’s caption: “Let’s pray for our army. Let us also pray for the families left and worried about the condition of their husbands/fathers.”
It turned out that the photo was of Honduran soldiers. Her explanation: “I did not say that picture was taken from Marawi…. Common sense that it’s a symbolism.” She also challenged the media: “You’re journalists, aren’t you?”
A few days ago, the Philippine News Agency posted a story that claimed 95 out of 105 nations agreed there were no extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. This was another fake story, and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines slammed the government-run PNA for this.
Then again, they must have been inspired by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte, who, in justifying his declaration of martial law in Mindanao, said a town police chief had been stopped by terrorists at a checkpoint and decapitated then and there.
But Romeo Enriquez, police chief of Malabang town, is still alive.
It is likely no coincidence that the strategic communications office of the Presidential Communications Operations Office was abolished this week because of restructuring in the Palace functions.
This shows anybody can fall prey to this bad habit, or vice.
It is frustrating that those who must show leadership in fighting fake news become, unwittingly or not, agents of it instead. This leaves the people no choice but to step up and become critical consumers of information, especially during these murky, dangerous times.
