We will foray into anti-fake news bill, security of tenure- Revilla

The Committee on Public Information and Mass Media led by Sen. Bong Revilla, Jr. held its organizational meeting today, as Revilla expressed the readiness of the committee to tackle the anti-fake news bill.

Senate Bill No. 9 or the Anti-Fake News Bill filed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III prohibits the publication or proliferation of wrong information in the internet. Anyone found guilty of spreading fake news shall pay a fine of P 2 million and serve time.

The veteran senator said that he will "go into details" during the hearing of the anti-fake news bill.

Committee on Civil Service, also chaired by Revilla, likewise held its organizational meeting where the lawmaker set to prioritize the salary standardization bill and additional automatic adjustment mechanism in Personal Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) for government employees.

Under the PERA program, government employees used to receive P 500 monthly. Revilla is pushing to increase it to P 1500.

Revilla also wants to tackle Senate Bill 244 or the National Government Act also filed by Sen. Sotto III, particularly the security of tenure for all casual and contractual employees who served for five straight years under any department, bureau, office, commission, board, council and other agencies under the administrative supervision, and 10 years for employees in any Local Government Unit.

"Kailangan himayin nating mabuti ang mga panukalang batas na ito partikular itong anti-fake news bill dahil marami sa ating mga kababayan ang biktima nito kabilang na ang inyong lingkod lalo na noong kasagsagan ng kampanya" Revilla said.