Let’s call House Bill 9465 what it actually is: a muzzle. As a journalist, I’ve spent my career chasing facts, but I’m terrified of a world where the government becomes the 'sole arbiter of truth.'

We’re two months out from the House passing this Digital Media Anti-False Information Act, and the Senate needs to kill it. The proponents—led by Sandro Marcos—claim they’re dismantling troll farms. Fine. But giving a government-heavy council the power to order content takedowns in 48 hours without a court order? That’s not 'fighting disinformation'; that’s a weapon for whoever is in Malacañang.

The irony is peak Philippines: the very people who benefited from coordinated social media campaigns are now the ones deciding what counts as 'fake.' If you think this won't be used to red-tag activists or bury investigative reports on the economy, you’re not paying attention. We don't need state-mandated truth. We need platform accountability and a real Freedom of Information law. If this passes, the 'chilling effect' won't just be for us in the press—it’ll be for anyone with an opinion.