Latest news with #RufusRodriguez
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Solon wants to criminalize fake news, troll farms, bot networks
Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez has filed a bill seeking to criminalize the spread of fake news, and the operation of troll farms and bot networks that aim to circulate false information. Under House Bill 11506, Rufus seeks to have propagators of fake news and disinformation penalized with a fine of P500,000 to P2 million, and imprisonment of six years to 12 years, as he described these as a 'serious threat' to public trust, democratic institutions, and national stability. The bill specifically prohibits knowingly and maliciously publishing or disseminating any fake news or disinformation through any medium; and creating, operating, or financing troll farms, bot networks, or coordinated campaigns specifically aimed at spreading fake news. It also prohibits the dissemination of fake news or disinformation that incites violence, promotes hate speech, discredits democratic institutions, or may cause public panic or disorder; and facilitating or allowing the use of social media platforms or accounts to repeatedly and systemically engage in such acts. 'These falsehoods, often disseminated at scale through social media or synthetic content like deepfakes, have the power to incite confusion, manipulate public perception, and provoke civil disorder,' the lawmaker said. 'By striking a balance between protecting freedom of expression and addressing the dangerous consequences of intentional disinformation, this measure affirms the values of both liberty and responsibility in a modern, democratic society,' he added. While the country has existing laws including the Revised Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act, Rodriguez said these do not adequately address the evolving nature and impact of malicious disinformation campaigns. The solon also cited a Supreme Court ruling that the right to freedom of speech, of expression, and of the press is not absolute, as obscenity, defamation, incitement to violence, false advertising, and speech that poses a clear and present danger to public order or national security are not entitled to constitutional protection. The bill defines fake news as 'false or misleading information presented as fact or news, deliberately and maliciously disseminated to mislead the public, that may sow confusion, incite hatred or violence, or disrupt public order.' It also defines disinformation as 'false information intentionally spread to deceive, manipulate, or influence public perception, behavior, or policy.' Meanwhile, malicious intent is described as the 'deliberate or reckless disregard for truth, with the purpose of causing harm, panic, hatred, violence, or undermining trust in institutions.' —RF, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Philippine lawmaker criticizes US for new travel warning: 'Unfair treatment from our number 1 ally'
A Philippine lawmaker on Sunday railed against the U.S. government for its updated travel advisory for the Asian country, with the politician arguing that the warning to American travelers is "unfair" coming from "our number one ally." "This is an unfair shotgun warning," Philippines House of Representatives member Rufus Rodriguez said. "There are certainly many places in our country that are safe to tourists such as Cagayan de Oro City." "The United States should review this advisory. We do not deserve this unfair treatment from our number one ally," he continued. On May 8, the U.S. State Department issued a "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution" travel advisory for the Philippines. Car Crash At Airport In The Philippines Kills At Least 2, Including Young Girl "Terrorists and armed groups have carried out kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks targeting public areas like tourist sites, markets, and local government facilities in the Philippines," the advisory reads. "Violent crimes are also common in the Philippines such as robbery, kidnappings, and physical assaults. Protests happen in the Philippines and could turn violent and/or result in traffic jams and road closures with limited capacity of the local government to respond." Read On The Fox News App "Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in the Philippines must obtain special authorization to travel to certain areas of the country," it added. The advisory cautioned against all travel to the Sulu Archipelago and Marawi City, issuing a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" warning over kidnappings and other attacks targeting foreign nationals, including Americans, in the Sulu Archipelago and the Sulu Sea and the risk of death or injury due to "ongoing clashes between terrorist group remnants and Philippine security forces in Marawi." Vancouver Driver Plows Into Crowd Of People Attending Filipino Festival, Killing Multiple Victims It said the U.S. government had limited resources to provide emergency services to its citizens in these areas. A "Level 3: Reconsider Travel" advisory was issued for Mindanao island — with exceptions for Davao City, Davao del Norte Province, Siargao Island and the Dinagat Islands — due to terrorist and armed groups in Mindanao that have "historically engaged in kidnappings for ransom, in addition to bombings and other attacks." The warning said these incidents often target foreign nationals, including Americans. Rodriguez, who represents the second district of Cagayan de Oro, a city in northern Mindanao, called on his government's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to summon U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson to demand answers over the advisory. The lawmaker also called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ask the DFA, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez and the Philippine Department of Tourism to explain what they have done since the U.S. State Department's warning on May 8. Rodriguez argued that the warning places the country in a bad light for the international community. "It discourages not only Americans but other foreign tourists as well from visiting the Philippines. It will surely hurt our tourism sector," he said. "It is likewise particularly biased against our beloved island, Mindanao."Original article source: Philippine lawmaker criticizes US for new travel warning: 'Unfair treatment from our number 1 ally'
Fox News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Philippine lawmaker criticizes US for new travel warning: 'Unfair treatment from our number 1 ally'
A Philippine lawmaker on Sunday railed against the U.S. government for its updated travel advisory for the Asian country, with the politician arguing that the warning to American travelers is "unfair" coming from "our number one ally." "This is an unfair shotgun warning," Philippines House of Representatives member Rufus Rodriguez said. "There are certainly many places in our country that are safe to tourists such as Cagayan de Oro City." "The United States should review this advisory. We do not deserve this unfair treatment from our number one ally," he continued. On May 8, the U.S. State Department issued a "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution" travel advisory for the Philippines. "Terrorists and armed groups have carried out kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks targeting public areas like tourist sites, markets, and local government facilities in the Philippines," the advisory reads. "Violent crimes are also common in the Philippines such as robbery, kidnappings, and physical assaults. Protests happen in the Philippines and could turn violent and/or result in traffic jams and road closures with limited capacity of the local government to respond." "Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in the Philippines must obtain special authorization to travel to certain areas of the country," it added. The advisory cautioned against all travel to the Sulu Archipelago and Marawi City, issuing a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" warning over kidnappings and other attacks targeting foreign nationals, including Americans, in the Sulu Archipelago and the Sulu Sea and the risk of death or injury due to "ongoing clashes between terrorist group remnants and Philippine security forces in Marawi." It said the U.S. government had limited resources to provide emergency services to its citizens in these areas. A "Level 3: Reconsider Travel" advisory was issued for Mindanao island — with exceptions for Davao City, Davao del Norte Province, Siargao Island and the Dinagat Islands — due to terrorist and armed groups in Mindanao that have "historically engaged in kidnappings for ransom, in addition to bombings and other attacks." The warning said these incidents often target foreign nationals, including Americans. Rodriguez, who represents the second district of Cagayan de Oro, a city in northern Mindanao, called on his government's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to summon U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson to demand answers over the advisory. The lawmaker also called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ask the DFA, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez and the Philippine Department of Tourism to explain what they have done since the U.S. State Department's warning on May 8. Rodriguez argued that the warning places the country in a bad light for the international community. "It discourages not only Americans but other foreign tourists as well from visiting the Philippines. It will surely hurt our tourism sector," he said. "It is likewise particularly biased against our beloved island, Mindanao."
South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Philippine politician slams US travel warning: ‘unfair treatment from our No 1 ally'
A Filipino lawmaker has protested against a US travel advisory for the Philippines citing crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping as reasons for Americans to be wary in the country. Advertisement 'This is an unfair, shotgun warning. There are certainly many places in our country that are safe to tourists,' Philippines House of Representatives member Rufus Rodriguez said on Sunday. 'The United States should review this advisory. We do not deserve this unfair treatment from our No 1 ally.' The May 8 advisory, issued by the US State Department, mostly placed the Philippines in the 'Level 2' category, meaning 'exercise increased caution'. 'Terrorists and armed groups have carried out kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks targeting public areas like tourist sites, markets, and local government facilities in the Philippines,' the advisory read. Advertisement 'Violent crimes are also common in the Philippines such as robbery, kidnappings, and physical assaults.' The US advisory cautioned against all travel to the Sulu Archipelago and Marawi City, placing them in the 'Level 4' category for 'do not travel', highlighting kidnappings targeting foreign nationals and the risk of death or injury due to 'ongoing clashes between terrorist group remnants and Philippine security forces'.
GMA Network
21-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Ex-Immigration chief: ASEAN unified visa may let in spies
A unified ASEAN visa would "allow Chinese tourists, who are actually spies, to get ASEAN visas in Chinese client states like Cambodia and Laos," former Immigration chief Rep. Rufus Rodriguez warned. Bay Ismoyo/ AFP/ File photo Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez on Wednesday opposed the proposed ASEAN unified visa system, saying this could lead to unabated entry of Chinese spies into the country. The proposed visa system would be similar to the Schengen visa that allows the person to entry in all European Union member countries. 'This will allow Chinese tourists, who are actually spies, to get ASEAN visas in Chinese client states like Cambodia and Laos. Even the liberal visa granted by Thailand to Chinese citizens...[can be used] to come to the Philippines and they will automatically be admitted under the ASEAN visa scheme,' said Rodriguez, who served as Immigration chief during the presidency of Joseph Estrada from 1998 to 2001. Tourism chief Christina Frasco said that the proposed visa would 'be able to unify the ASEAN as a destination in terms of the strength of its natural assets, its unparalleled warmth and hospitality as a people, and as a culture, and in terms of the quality of experiences that we are able to offer.' 'This will be more dangerous to our national security than our present visa issuance process,' Rodriguez added. ASEAN groups the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Brunei, while there has been an agreement "in principle" to accept Timor-Leste since 2022. As it is, Rodriguez said, Chinese spies are able to enter the country as tourists, students and businessmen. 'Many of them are actually spies of Beijing, several of whom have been caught red-handed by the authorities near military installations and sensitive government offices, including the Commission on Elections,' he said. Rodriguez was referring to the Chinese citizen with supposed "spying" equipment who was nabbed by authorities near the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila before the elections. During the same sting operation, authorities also found an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher that can gather sensitive data and information like text messages, mobile numbers, and calls from mobile phones near it. 'Others are scammers, illegal gambling operators, illegal POGO [Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators], human traffickers, drug smugglers, and criminally-minded nationals of China. They are a plague in our society. We cannot have more of them here through a system that facilitates their easy entry in our country,' Rodriguez added. Rodriguez then urged Frasco and other tourism stakeholders to find ways in boosting the tourism sector without compromising national security. GMA News Online has reached out to the Chinese Embassy for comment. — BM, GMA Integrated News
