#FactsFirstPH: OneNews.PH Joins More Than 100 Organizations To Fight Disinformation Ahead Of 2022 Polls

The battle for facts needs you. 

More than 100 organizations from the media, academe, business, civil society, coalitions and the Church banded together on Wednesday, Jan. 26 for #FactsFirstPH.  

#FactsFirstPH is a first-of-its-kind fact-checking initiative where several sectors unite to promote the truth in the public space, as well as exacting accountability on those who harm it with lies. It seeks to make truth spread faster and further than lies and hate. 

OneNews.PH is one of the organizations that joined the initiative.  

This project was launched more than 103 days away from the upcoming elections slated for May 9 — with many saying the upcoming polls is the most crucial since 1986.  

This initiative will collectively push for truth-telling and debunking lies through four steps or layers: fact-checking, networking by civil society and grassroots groups; research and analysis by academic institutions; and seeking accountability by lawyers’ groups. 

This is meant to help restore the integrity of the elections, and give the public the information they need to choose the leaders they want on May 9. 

Fact-checking, which will be done by media organizations, includes monitoring online platforms for dubious claims and producing articles. Civil society and grassroot groups are expected to amplify fact-checked pieces to help counter disinformation.  

The third step involves observing data, trends and patterns of disinformation spread on social media. The fourth step focuses on seeking accountability, where lawyers’ groups will act on complaints and attacks against journalists, fact-checkers and netizens who share fact-checked content.  

The #FactsFirstPH collaboration is supported by technology non-profit group Meedan, Rappler, and Google News Initiative. 

We need facts 

For Rappler CEO and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, the attack on facts on social media has been “relentless.”  

“[A]s we learned from history, if we don’t have facts, we can’t find common ground, we can’t trust each other. Without trust, there’s no law, no justice and democracy is dead,” Ressa said during the online launch of the initiative on Wednesday. 

“The attack on facts is personal: if you defend the facts, you’re hammered down, intimidated to stay silent or join the mob. Those aren’t our only options. There is strength in standing up together. Because now more than ever, we need facts,” she added.  

Lawyer John Molo, a trustee of the Philippine Bar Association, meanwhile encouraged more people to join the initiative as “now is not the time to watch by the sidelines.”  

“One hundred days will determine the next six years, it’s a tipping point. And if history is to be made in the next few months, ask yourself: Where would you rather be?” Molo said.  

In a statement, News5 chief Luchi Cruz-Valdes stressed that opinions should be grounded on established truths determined by facts as they are.  

“Consistent with our aim to be frontliners of fact-based news gathering and reporting, we also aim to be at the forefront against disinformation, especially on the internet. This initiative helps us realize that objective as we continue to face the challenges of the pandemic and the upcoming elections,” Valdes said. 

Below is a full list of participating groups in this initiative as of Wednesday: 

FACT-CHECKING 

ABKD Network 

ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs 

Altermidya 

Baguio Chronicle 

Catholic Media Network  

Daily Guardian  

Interaksyon 

Mindanao Gold Star  

News5 Digital 

OneNews.PH 

PressOne 

Probe Productions 

Radyo Veritas 

Rappler 

MESH 

#CourageON Coalition (89 members) 

#PHVote Coalition (45 members)  

2030 Youth Force in the Philippines  

ACP3- PEACE T.A.Y.O. 

Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan (AKMK) 

Amateur Media Association of Philippine Scouts 

Bantay Bakuna 

Bayan Mo Patrol Mo 

BlogWatch 

Boto Pilipino 

Break the Fake 

Brotherhood of Christian - Businessmen & Professionals 

Caloocan Young Leaders Initiative 

Caritas Philippines 

Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines 

Center for Trade Union and Human Rights  

Coalition for People's Right to Health 

College Editors Guild of the Philippines 

Concerned Artists of the Philippines 

Council for Health and Development 

Dakila  

Fact Check Philippines 

FEU Central Student Organization 

Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines 

Foundation for Media Alternatives 

Fyt 

Holy Angel University 

Human Rights Watch 

Ibon Foundation 

ImagineLaw 

Juan Health PH 

Ka-Ilongga 

Kalikasan 

Karapatan 

Kilos na para sa Kabuhayan, Kalusugan at Karapatan (K4) 

Kontra Daya 

LILAK 

Makati Business Club 

Move As One coalition 

National Alliance of Youth Leaders Inc. 

Northern Dispatch 

Now You Know 

Out of the Box 

Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) 

Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism 

PMCJ 

Practice of Administrative Leadership and Service - NCPAG 

Rise Up for Life and For Rights (and EcuVoice Philippines) 

Student Council Alliance of the Philippines 

Tamang Boto 

Tatak Botante 

The Amaranth 

UE - Manila CASSC 

University of the Philippines - Los Baños 

Visayas State University 

YouVote Global Shapers Iloilo Hub 

RESEARCH 

ACCeSs@AIM: Analytics, Computing, and Complex Systems Lab of Asian Institute of Management 

De La Salle University - La Salle Institute of Governance 

Far Eastern University - Public Policy Center 

Philippine Media Monitoring Laboratory, UP Department of Communication Research 

Rappler Research and Data team  

ACCOUNTABILITY 

Free Legal Assistance Group  

Movement Against Disinformation  

National Union of Journalists in the Philippines 

Philippine Bar Association 

Interested groups who wish to join the movement may do so by sending an email to [email protected]. Meanwhile, those who have spotted disinformation online may post the link and screenshot using the hashtag #FactsFirstPH.