Fact check reportage on Duterte ICC battle - media professor

Metro Manila, Philippines - Media practitioners need to fact check information coming out of former President Rodrigo Duterte's legal battle at the International Criminal Court (ICC) amid the spread of disinformation and misinformation, a media professor said.

In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, Danilo Arao, journalist and professor at University of the Philippines College of Media and Communication, said verification is vital in light of different narratives on the former president’s arrest and looming trial at an international tribunal.

“Walang responsibilidad ang periodista na i-quote ang isang kasinungalingan. In fact, mas mainam na huwag na niya i-quote. At kung feeling niya kailangang i-quote, i-fact-check agad-agad,” he said.

[Translation: Journalists have no obligation to quote lies. In fact, it’s better not to quote them. But if they feel there’s a need to do so, you need to fact-check them.]

Arao pointed out, as example, the supposed abduction of the former president with his arrest by Philippine authorities upon arrival from Hong Kong at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, with the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organization for an ICC warrant over extrajudicial killings linked to Duterte’s war on drugs.

Over the weekend, a number of quote graphic cards from fictional characters supposedly expressing support for the former president were shared on social media.

Arao noted the lack of media literacy and education behind the proliferation of disinformation.

“Hindi lang ito usapin ng factual accuracy kundi contextual accuracy din…mas lalong walang problema kung ang pipiliing sources of information, hindi yung mga palamura, hindi yung mga sensational kung magsalita, kung hindi yung may malalim na pagkakaintindi talaga sa mga issue,” he said.

[Translation: This is not just a matter of factual accuracy, but also contextual accuracy… it would be even better if the sources of information chosen are not those who use foul language or speak sensationally, but rather those who truly have a deep understanding of the issues.]

Meanwhile, on fact-checking claims, Arao advised the public to practice multi-sourcing or looking at a number of credible information sources.

“Dapat tingnan natin alin ba yung professional ang pagkakasulat, professional yung pagkakabalita. Tapos ikumpara natin yung mga binabalita nila sa iba pang equally professional and equally well-written, well-researched na mga balita mula sa iba pang organization,” he said.

[Translation: We should look at which ones are written professionally, with professional reporting. Then, let's compare their news content with other equally professional and well-written, well-researched news from other organizations.]