International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) Director Angie Drobnic Holan has lauded the relaunch of Tsek.ph, a multisectoral fact-checking initiative, calling it “a powerful force for truth” amid rising disinformation and declining platform accountability ahead of the Philippine elections.
Speaking at the official launch on Feb. 7, Holan emphasized the urgency of the country’s pioneering collaborative fact-checking initiative, warning that political polarization, the retreat of social media platforms from their commitments to truth, and increasing harassment of fact-checkers pose significant challenges to evidence-based public discourse.
Dr. Fernando Paragas, dean of the University of the Philippines College of Media and Communication, also underscored in his opening remarks the critical role of fact-checking in today’s media landscape, where misinformation often dominates.
Recognizing Tsek.ph’s diverse coalition of media, academe and civil society and its role in helping voters make informed decisions in previous elections, Holan said, “Each of you brings unique strengths to this collaboration, and together, you are a powerful force for truth.”
She praised Tsek.ph as more than just a fact-checking project, describing it as an initiative that “transcends boundaries and differences.” She called it a societal commitment to defending truth as a “public good.”
“Your work reminds us that while disinformation may be global, the solutions must be rooted in local collaboration and expertise,” she added.
Holan called out Meta’s withdrawal from its third-party fact-checking program as a “step back from the fight against online misinformation.”
“This development makes independent fact-checking initiatives like Tsek.ph even more critical,” she said. “When platforms step back from their responsibilities, fact-checkers must step forward.”
She said the growing sophistication of disinformation tactics makes it essential for fact-checkers to work together.
“No single organization can effectively combat the flood of false information alone,” she said, adding that the collaborative approach of Tsek.ph offers a stronger defense against misleading narratives.
Beyond the technical challenges, Holan acknowledged that fact-checkers themselves are being targeted.
“The attacks on fact-checkers reveal that truth-telling is threatening to those who gain from deception,” she said, citing harassment and unfounded allegations as proof that fact-checking efforts are making a real impact.
As the country prepares for the upcoming May elections, Holan urged fact-checkers to maintain public trust by adhering to transparent methodology and nonpartisanship, adapt to evolving disinformation tactics which increasingly blend truth with falsehoods, and ensure the sustainability of independent fact-checking efforts through long-term collaboration.
“Fact-checking is not just about correcting false claims; it’s about strengthening the information environment that makes democracy possible,” she said.
In his remarks, Paragas emphasized the growing difficulty of distinguishing fact from fiction in a time when misinformation is widespread and often disguised as legitimate discourse.
“How does one even begin to ascertain fact from fiction in our supposed ‘post-truth’ era, where euphemisms, relativisms, hot-take opinions, conspiracies and conflations are presently being used to describe the world’s current situation?” he said. “This is a difficult challenge for all of us in the field of media and communication.”
Paragas urged collective action in tackling the complexities of modern misinformation, recognizing that fact-checkers not only confront false claims but also navigate the organized and networked nature of disinformation.
“The voices of micro and major influencers, amplified by troll farms, resonate among the greater public, especially in the absence of other information or fact-checking,” he said. “We must not only fact-check with greater speed and volume but also involve everyone in the effort.”
Tsek.ph was launched in 2019, initially bringing together three academic institutions and 11 media partners. By the 2022 elections, the network had expanded to include 2022 more academic institutions, media organizations and civil society fact-checkers.
This year’s media partners are ABS-CBN, Agence France-Presse, DZUP, Facts First with Christian Esguerra, FYT, Interaksyon, MindaNews, PhilStar Global, Philippine Press Institute, Press One, Probe and VERA Files.
The academic partners are UP Department of Journalism’s FactRakers, UP Department of Political Science, UP Baguio’s Department of Communication, UP Cebu’s Communication Arts and Design Department, UP Visayas’ Division of Humanities, and the University of Santo Tomas.
The civil society partners are Akademiya at Bayan Kontra Disimpormasyon at Dayaan, Fact Check Philippines, IDEALS, Pinas Forward and Philippine Association for Media and Information Literacy.
Tsek.ph is supported this year by the International Media Support, Meedan, Embassy of Canada, UP Journalism Department and the UPCMC Foundation.
For more information on Tsek.ph, visit the website, email [email protected], or like and follow it on Facebook, Viber, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, Bluesky and Threads.