The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday called for a unified government effort to curb the spread of fake news and misinformation, stressing that accurate, timely, and verified information is critical to preventing fear and confusion during crises.

Speaking during the Kapihan sa Manila held at Prince Hotel in Ermita, Manila, DILG Undersecretary for Public Affairs and Communication Ronaldo C. Puno said combating fake news and misinformation is a shared responsibility of government agencies, the media, and the public, particularly during high-tension incidents such as the recent school shooting in Zamboanga City.

“We really need a concerted effort to quash fake news,” Puno said, underscoring the need for the DILG and other government agencies to work together to ensure that only verified and factual information reaches the public.

He said the school shooting incident also highlighted the need to continuously improve government communication and information dissemination mechanisms during crises.

“Hindi tayo sanay sa mga pangyayaring ganyan (school shooting incidents). But it does call to refine processes and make things better,” Puno said.

Hours after the shooting incident at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, videos purportedly showing injured school security guards circulated widely on social media, sparking confusion and fueling unverified reports that the two guards had been killed.

Puno urged the public to rely on official and verified information from credible government authorities, noting that the Philippine National Police (PNP) exercises caution in releasing information while reports are still being validated.

“Given the tense situation, given how quickly things progressed, nag-iingat din ang pulis. They want to share the information as quickly as possible, but they want to share verified information,” he said.

Puno also cited the DILG’s immediate response following the Zamboanga incident, with Secretary Jonvic Remulla holding press conferences to provide the media and the public with verified information as it became available.

“Shortly after the Zamboanga situation, he (SILG Jonvic Remulla) came up with a statement right away to try to give us as many details as possible,” Puno said.

The DILG likewise reminded the public to verify information before sharing it, particularly during emergencies and other rapidly developing situations where unverified posts can quickly create fear, confusion, and unnecessary alarm.

The Department stressed that responsible information sharing, coupled with timely and coordinated communication from government, is crucial to ensuring that the public receives facts rather than speculation when accurate information matters most.