MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has officially filed cyberlibel charges against the administrators of the Facebook page “Malasakit News Pilipinas” for spreading false information regarding a supposed national “energy lockdown.”
PCO Secretary Dave Gomez filed the complaint at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, accusing the page of malicious intent to sow public panic and confusion amidst the ongoing regional fuel crisis.
The PCO flagged at least three specific posts that claimed the government was about to impose an emergency lockdown due to a severe fuel shortage. According to Secretary Gomez, these fabrications were designed to:
- Trigger Panic Buying: Scaring the public into hoarding gasoline, diesel, and LPG.
- Fuel Scams: Encouraging citizens to purchase solar panels through unverified links under the guise of an “energy emergency.”
- Health Misinformation: The page also allegedly spread rumors of a health-related lockdown caused by a non-existent “Covid-19 Cicada variant.”
“All these posts are blatant lies and fabrications that fall under the definition of false news,” Gomez told reporters at the DOJ.
The page’s content notably used artificial intelligence-generated “newscasters” to deliver unverified reports about nationwide brownouts, student incentives, and government cash aid, lending a false air of professional legitimacy to the misinformation.
Malacañang warned that those found responsible for the page could face significant jail time. In the Philippines, cyberlibel carries a prison term of up to eight years. The PCO is working with the DOJ to unmask the individuals behind the account and prosecute them “on behalf of the Filipino people.”
As the country manages a delicate economic and energy landscape, the Palace emphasized that it will not tolerate digital campaigns that undermine public welfare or safety for profit or political destabilization.