HOUSE Speaker Martin Romualdez has condemned the spread of misinformation regarding Pope Francis’ health, emphasizing the dangers of irresponsible internet use.
In a statement on Tuesday, Romualdez called reports falsely claiming the Pope’s death a “disturbing display of reckless misinformation”.
He urged the public to be vigilant against fake news, stressing that social media should not be used as a tool for deception.
Romualdez called on everyone to verify the information before sharing it.
Recent online posts falsely declared that Pope Francis, 88, had passed away following a respiratory illness.
However, major news sources, including Vatican News, confirmed that while the Pope remains in critical condition, he is stable.
According to the Vatican, a follow-up CAT scan showed no further complications, and Francis has resumed some of his activities.
Romualdez called for collective action to combat misinformation, urging governments, media, and tech platforms to enforce stricter measures against fake news. He also encouraged Filipinos to focus on prayers and goodwill rather than spreading baseless rumors.
This follows a similar appeal from Rome-based Filipino priest Gregory Gaston, who warned against sharing unverified reports about the Pope’s health, reinforcing the need for responsible social media use.