Cebu vlogger arrested for spreading fake news

A lawmaker praised the arrest of a vlogger in Cebu for allegedly spreading fake news. Wendelyn Magalso, 30, from Oslob, was taken into custody by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on March 20. Taguig City Rep. Pammy Zamora made a statement emphasizing that freedom of expression should not be used to deceive others. She warned that being a content creator has limits, especially when it involves spreading lies for profit. The NBI accused Magalso of altering a post from TV5 and adding fake quotes from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Her post suggested that illegal drugs had become legal. Zamora stated that imitating the president or legitimate news outlets is not a personal opinion, but a form of deception. Zamora also called for educating the youth on how to differentiate truth from falsehood. She stressed that those who intentionally create fake news will face legal consequences. Magalso now faces charges under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. If found guilty, she could be sentenced to six months to six years in prison, and fined between 40,000 and 200,000 pesos.