Lō t̲aʿăneh b̲ərēʿăk̲ā ʿēd̲ šāqer (Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor).
— Exodus 20:16
MAYPAJO, Caloocan City — Let us be clear about what is happening.
What is now being circulated online are false and malicious claims directed at the First Couple—President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and First Lady Marie Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta-Marcos.
The claims against that both are involved in drugs, have shameful sexual conduct and the supposed existence of ‘sensitive’ images, including edited or fabricated material falsely attributed to the First Lady, are downright outrageous! And noticeably, there are no records about them. No forensic findings. No sworn statements. No cases filed before any court or authority. What exists is an interview-style presentation, followed by repetitive statements across various blogs and social media platforms.And civic leader Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia reacts strongly:
“That distinction of proof or evidence matters very much. Criticism should be anchored on facts and actions. Yet, what we are seeing here are accusations floated without proof and amplified only to take damaging effect.”We agree, this is not legitimate criticism but mere defamation.
What’s more, the allegations against the First Couple were aired through an online interview conducted by a vlogger tagged as Deen Chase and the format he uses is that which gives the appearance of dialogue while quietly stripping away verification, challenge and accountability. Presented this way, untested claims are allowed to pass as conversation and are easily circulated as content.But, we should note that placing an accusation inside an interview format does not make it credible—it only makes it easier to spread.So, Dr. Goitia glaringly noticed:
Nothing in the video is verified. Nothing is authenticated. There is no attempt to submit these claims to institutions capable of testing them. The delivery is casual, almost conversational, as if repetition itself could substitute for proof.But the truth is that the content and creator cannot prove anything about the allegations.
“This is not a legitimate exercise in public discourse. An interview format does not excuse unproven accusations, and it does not remove accountability,” Goitia, chairman emeritus of the Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI) and Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement (FDNY), clearly pointed out. It cannot be denied that the content was produced for circulation and not for truth.But let us ask, why is the First Lady being targeted?
The focus on alleged sexual behavior and supposed private images aimed at the First Lady is not incidental because it follows a familiar pattern: When facts fail, dignity is attacked; when governance cannot be challenged, humiliation is attempted.
And because the target is a woman, the damage is expected to linger even after the lie collapses. That expectation is part of the tactic.
“This is a gendered form of attack,” Goitia cited. “It relies on shame and insinuation because those wounds are harder to undo, even when the claims are false.”And still, no image has been authenticated, no expert has verified anything. It remains that the insinuation alone is expected to cause harm.We realize then that we have the right to free speech and public officials are open to scrutiny.
Actually, they should be open to this, but inventing crimes and immoral conduct against a person is not protected speech. Publishing such claims online and repeating them without proof exposes those involved to libel and cyber libel — with real criminal and civil consequences.
Moreover, calling it as ‘opinion’ does not shield the speaker from accountability and liability. And further, calling it an ‘interview’ does not absolve the platform nor reposting it erases responsibility. In ending, Goitia asserted that “free expression is not a license to destroy reputations.”
“The law draws a line, and this crossed it. Those who continue to spread these false claims should be clear about the consequences: the harm is real, and liability follows the damage caused.
“When proof is absent, and repetition continues, the act is no longer accidental. It is intentional and intent matters. Extraordinary accusations require proof and when none is offered, the responsible course is simple: stop,” he stressed. Finally, the chairman emeritus concludes:
“This is not about silencing voices. It is about insisting on truth, responsibility, and the basic standards that hold a society together.”
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FOR your comments or suggestions, complaints or requests, just send a message through my email at cipcab2006@yahoo.com or text me at cellphone numbers 09171656792 or 09171592256 during office hours from Monday to Friday. Thank you and mabuhay!
