Senator Bong Revilla on Tuesday demanded an explanation from Facebook and its parent company Meta after it recently flagged and removed posts of government officials and media agencies.

In a statement, Revilla expressed his concern about Facebook's recent steps, particularly on how it could affect the performance of affected government officials and agencies.

"While we recognize Facebook and Meta's continuing efforts against misinformation, cyberbullying, hate speech, terrorism, among other problems encountered in social media platforms, I join the concern of the government agencies and mass media organizations about the effects of the abovementioned incidents in the performance of official functions and their implications in national security, sovereignty, and fundamental freedoms," Revilla, who is also the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, said in a statement.

"I appreciate any information and explanation that your office may extend on this matter."

The Department of the Interior and Local Government slammed Facebook's move against Facebook, calling it "alarming, if not dangerous," for censuring legitimate posts of government officials.

"We, therefore, urge FB to revisit and modify its so-called standards that are obviously one-sided and serve to promote the interests of the few and powerful," said DILG in a statement.

Facebook's response

It further clarified that the flagging of said Facebook posts was not due to its fact-checking initiatives but to a violation of its community standards.

According to the social media giant, it has since resolved the issue and will "continue to monitor the situation."