HOUSE leaders have dismissed concerns of widespread civil unrest following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, stating that current protests are merely expressions of support and not indicative of a larger movement.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, in a press conference at the House of Representatives, emphasized that the situation remains calm and that there is no reason to raise the national alert level based on assessments by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Adiong pointed out that the more concerning issue is the spread of fake news on social media, with misleading images and videos circulating that falsely portray a climate of civil unrest. He stressed that these online narratives do not reflect the actual situation on the ground.
House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega echoed these sentiments, stating that the dissemination of false information about widespread unrest is deliberate and intended to create a sense of panic. He urged the public to be discerning and critical when consuming information, particularly from social media platforms.
The House leaders’ statements appear to downplay the potential for significant unrest following Duterte’s arrest. However, their call for vigilance against misinformation highlights the potential for online narratives to influence public perception and potentially escalate tensions. It remains to be seen whether the current situation will remain peaceful or if the arrest will spark larger-scale protests in the coming days.
