MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law amendments in the Revised Penal Code, which includes imposing stiffer penalties on publishing fake news.

Article 154 of Republic Act 10951 imposes stiffer penalty on “unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances.”

Under the law, penalty of arresto mayor and a fine ranging from P40,000 to P200,000 shall be imposed on any person publishing false news, “which may endanger the public order, or cause damage to the interest or credit of the state.”

Today, Ombudswoman Conchita Morales filed the first case under the new law against blogger and self-proclaimed investigative journalist Raissa Robles.

The case stems from a tweet sent by Robles alleging that an impeachment complaint has been filed against Morales.

The fact of the matter is, the impeachment complaint was against Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno, not Morales.

Fake news, indeed!