Arellano wants gadgets regulation; Casiño bats for literacy, fighting fake news

Senatorial bet Ernesto Arellano is in favor of the regulation of the use of gadgets while Teddy Casiño opts for the implementation of media literacy education as some of the strategies in the promotion for the safe navigation of the internet.

In 2022, Pulse Asia survey showed that around 90% of Filipinos have read and/or watched fake political news while 86% believe false or fake news is a problem in the country.

Teen actress, social media personality, Sparkle artis Sofia Pablo said she was a victim of an online scam, bashing online, and victim of fake news.

"Ano po ang inyong gagawin, para maging mas ligtas ang social media para sa lahat lalo na sa mga kabataan na katulad ko," she asked the candidates.

During the “"Tanong ng Bayan: The GMA Senatorial Face-Off 2025” senatorial interviews on Saturday, Arellano said the use of phones and computers should be regulated for what he called easily-swayed youth.

“Ito ‘yung dahilan kung bakit madaling ma-dislocate ang desisyon ng mga kabataan at mga mamamayan,” Arellano said.

(This is the reason why decision-making of the youth and citizens is dislocated.)

Meanwhile, Casiño said with the proliferation of phones and computers and simply regulating the use of the gadgets is not the answer. The access to the internet is impossible to regulate

Instead, he called for education of the public on the dangers of online scams.

Arellano agreed with this and added that there should be a wider control over the use of gadgets.

“Kailangan pa rin ‘yung mas malawak na kontrol sa paggamit ng mga facilities na ito at magkaroon ng penalty sa maling paggamit. Higher penalty sa paggamit sa mga instrumentong ito na mali,” he stated.

(We still need a wider control in the use of these facilities, and for a penalty to be placed on wrong usage.)

Online scams

On the issue of online scams, Casiño said there should be a law that should be passed limit troll famrs and scam operations. A big portion of that is enforcement agencies.

"Pero that is just the tip of the iceberg. Ang mas malaking problema para sa akin ay ang fake news and disinformation," he said.

Fake news

“At ang isang problema diyan, mismo ‘yung pinaka matataas na opisyal natin – ang Presidente, ang Bise-Presidente, sila mismo ang nagkakalat ng fake news. So ‘yan ang isang problema na kailangan natin harapin,” Casiño stated.

(The bigger problem for me is the fake news and disinformation. And the problem is, even our highest officials—the President, the Vice President themselves spread fake news, so that is one of the problems we need to face.)

“Sinusuportahan ko ‘yan," Arellano added, "at yung paglabas ng mga rules and regulation, na mayroong penal provision ang makapagbigay ng effective control.”

(I will support that, and the release of rules and regulations with penal provisions that can give effective control.)

Casiño also said, “‘Yung pinaka-malaking panlaban sa fake news ay katotohanan, ang pinaka-malaking panlaban sa disinformation ay tamang impormasyon. Kaya kailangan ay mas ipasa natin ‘yung Freedom of Information Act para magkaroon ng mabilis na access, madaling access yung mga mamamayan sa tamang impormasyon.”

(The best solution to combat fake news is the truth, and the best way to combat disinformation is the correct information, which is why we need to pass the Freedom of Information Act so that our citizens can have fast access, easier access to the right information.)

Support for journalists

He called for the support of the media practitioners, journalists who reported the news.

“Kailangan din natin protektahan at suportahan yung mga totoong media, ‘yung talagang journalist na hindi lang simpleng report pero vetted at talagang katotohanan ang kanilang nire-report,” he said.

(We still need to protect and support the true media, the true journalists that don’t just simply report, but provide vetted and true information.) — BAP, GMA Integrated News

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