December 20, 2024 | 6:16pm
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on Friday, December 20, told the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that fake news is one of the current threats to democracy.
The AFP’s social media page has recently become a target for trolls, causing the military to shut down its comment section on Facebook.
“The geopolitical developments and tensions continue to test our sovereignty and our resolve. The surge in cybersecurity threats, if unchallenged and unaddressed, will challenge our national security. Meanwhile, the pervasive force of misinformation and disinformation undermines the values that we all hold dear, threatening the democracy we have fought so hard to protect,” Marcos said in a speech during the AFP’s 89th anniversary in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Marcos, who is commonly believed to have benefited from fake news in the 2022 national elections, has often found himself the subject of misinformation and disinformation posts.
One of the more famous instances is when a video created using artificial intelligence, which showed him declaring war on another country, went viral.
“The threats we face today are no longer confined to our shores or to the traditional battlefield. They are now complex, multifaceted, and, at times, invisible,” Marcos said.
The president, who is the AFP’s commander-in-chief, also lauded the military for its ability to adapt and evolve.
Marcos said it was important for the AFP to adapt to the modern age.
“The modern age demands that we meet these evolving challenges head-on. It calls for an AFP that is grounded in an understanding of its role in a rapidly changing world,” he said.
Marcos pledged that the government remains steadfast in modernizing the AFP by implementing the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Program to revitalize the country’s defense industry.
“To enhance our capabilities and preparedness, we are harnessing the latest technologies, reinforcing our strategies, and enhancing the skills of every soldier, every sailor, every airman. This ensures that we are ready to succeed in the battles on the field [and] in cyberspace, for the peace of mind of our people,” Marcos said.
During the ceremony, the AFP Museum was also relaunched after being renovated. It features war artifacts and old weapons.
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