The growing influence of fake news about the administration has attributed in the recent dip in President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.’s trust and approval ratings in the latest Pulse Asia Research Incorporated survey, said Malacañang on Monday.
“Sumasalamin din ito sa impluwensya ng fake news na nagkakalat,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in Filipino during a Palace briefing.
Castro further emphasized that while the administration takes note of public sentiment, the survey which included only 2,400 respondents — cannot represent the perspective of the entire nation.
"Nalaman po natin na ang respondents po dito ay 2,400. So, sa 2,400, hindi naman ito nagre-reflect ng sentimyento ng more than 100 million Filipinos in the country," she added.
She pointed to the proliferation of disinformation as a major factor influencing public perception, citing that many Filipinos may be forming opinions based on false or misleading content circulating online.
“So, kung ang mga tao na ito ay nagbigay ng kanilang opinyon, marahil ay dahil bunga ito ng fake news,” Castro ephasized.
“Ang fake news makakapagdiskaril ng isipan ng tao, ng taumbayan," she further explained.
According to Castro, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not concerned about his approval numbers and remains committed to performing his duties legally and effectively.
“Hindi po nabahala ang pangulo sa anumang ratings o survey, sabi po natin kanina ang pangulo kahit anumang rating mataas, mababa magpapatuloy siya sa kanyang trabaho. Hindi po siya mapapahinto ng anumang survey basta ang gagawin lamang ng pangulo ay gumawa ng mga naaayon sa batas at magtrabaho ng tama," Castro said.
Meanwhile, Castro said the government is actively working to combat fake news, with Marcos issuing a directive for agencies to address the issue, particularly through coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
“Basta ang direktiba po ng Pangulo sawatain, tigilan ang fake news. Marami na po hindi lamang po ang Pilipinas ang nagsasabi kahit po iyong ibang mga firms mula sa ibang bansa nagsasabi na po na dumadami po talaga ang fake news dito sa Pilipinas,” she concluded.
“That’s the reason why we have a directive from the President that we should curtail fake news,” she added.
“Since day one that we have been appointed, we were tasked to do our job, to spread the truth and not fake news,” Castro affirmed.
Aside from surveys the Palace also emphasized that the government is now examining whether Filipinos, especially those included in opinion polls are receiving proper government services and factual information.
"Dapat natin malaman ang mga respondents, saan ang mga respondents, ang respondents ba ito ay nakakatanggap ng totoong news, or kung ang mga ito ay naiimpluwensyahan ng fake news,” she added.
“Since day one that we have been appointed, we were tasked to do our job to spread the truth and not fake news,” Castro reaffirmed.
Based on the survey, Marcos’ approval and trust rating suffered a 17-point decline, from 42 percent in February to only 25 percent in March.
