Sen. Leila de Lima on Sunday expressed her support to media outlets waging a campaign against fake news and memes circulating on social media, saying that “truth has become the first casualty” in such misinformation.

De Lima’s statement came following reports from hoax news sites that she allegedly bought a $6-million mansion in New York last February, supposedly a “top secret” between her and her former driver Ronnie Dayan.

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“In our democratic society, the freedom of speech we all enjoy is not a license to smear the reputation and ruin the credibility of other people. I respect your expression of dissent and even frustration, but I will not tolerate any attempt to denigrate me and much less, to silence our democracy,” De Lima said in a statement.

“I acknowledge the differing views and opinions on issues that matter to majority of our people. You may or may not agree with me all the times, and that is perfectly fine with me. Like many of you, however, I also resent all and every deliberate and malicious attempt to curse, trash, degrade, humiliate and even (intimidate) our people,” she added.

Upon checking, De Lima said the address of the alleged mansion was plotted at the Barlow-Pell Mansion Museum, a popular landmark in New York. “This latest fake news is just one of the many manufactured news and fabricated lies being maliciously peddled around to malign and discredit me,” the senator said.

De Lima, the President’s staunchest critic, lamented that she has always been the “object of malicious misinformation campaign deigned to tarnish my good name and reputation.” She is being accused of coddling drug lords and benefitting from drug money in the national penitentiary during her stint as Justice secretary. JE/rga

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