Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: AFP/VNA)Manila (VNA) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on August 31 signed anew law, under which spreading fake news is now considered a crime and anybodyproven to spread false news can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to200,000 pesos (3,909 USD).
A Republic Act amending the country'sRevised Penal Code, passed by the Philippine congress earlier, carries harsher penaltiesfor certain crimes. The new law punishes the publication of any false newswhich may endanger the public order, or cause damage to the interest or creditof the State. Penalty for such crime is imprisonment for one to six months anda fine starting from 40,000 to 200,000 pesos (782-3,909 USD).
It alsopenalises any person who by means of printing, or by words, utterances orspeeches shall encourage disobedience to the law or to the constitutedauthorities or praise, justify and extol any act punished by law.
In a newsrelease the same day, the Presidential Palace said the law consists ofprovisions adjusting the amount of fines, as well as the amount or the value ofproperty and damage on which a penalty is set.
The lawadjusted the fines on certain crimes against national security, such as treasonand crimes against public order, such as rebellion and sedition.
ThePhilippine military has been fighting pro-IS militants in Marawi city over thepast four months. There has been widely-spread false news and propaganda fromrebel groups on social media. The Philippine government urged media andcitizens to listen to authorities and stop spreading fake news.-VNA
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