In light of the recent events in Davao City, a city councilor urged the public to be vigilant and discerning in the information they share on social media.
First District Councilor Bonz Andre Militar, in his privilege speech at the 34th Regular Session of the 20th City Council, said that one of the realizations and highlights of the 16-day police operation at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) is the importance of relaying accurate and timely information.
He said that during the operation, various accounts of the same story were presented to Dabawenyos, including him, which made people confused and misinformed.
He said that while he acknowledges the effort of people in acquiring information, misinformation breeds fear and panic and is thus dangerous.
“I encourage everyone to be vigilant and discerning in the information they consume and share. Let us cultivate the habit of cross-checking facts before forwarding news or forming opinions,” Militar said.
He added that the in this age of information overload, “it is more important than ever to distinguish fact from fiction, truth from rumor.”
“Let us help one another in ensuring facts are shared and false information are corrected. This is everyone’s responsibility,” the councilor said.
He also called the media to recommit to the highest standards of journalistic integrity.
“I take this opportunity to urge everyone, whether you are from mainstream media, online news platforms, or social media influencers, to recommit to the highest standards of journalistic integrity,” he said.
“Before publishing or sharing any report, we must first ensure that it is accurate, verified, and free from bias. Public trust rests on your shoulders, and with that trust comes the responsibility to provide the truth,” he added.
He also urged the news sources to provide “truthful and timely that the people need to know.” CIO
