By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday said “political” operators and not the media are trying to sabotage the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) by spreading “fake news” in various platforms.

Cayetano made the statement a day after he issued a threat that he will not only unmask those purveying hoaxes and false information about the hosting of the SEA Games but he will also sue for libel or cyber-libel those go beyond the bounds of the law.

“Political siya, political,” said Cayetano.

Cayetano stressed that “not accusing anyone in the media of intentionally (disseminating) fake news or sabotaging” the SEA Games but he thinks some individuals in the industry were used by those behind the supposed demolition job.

“I don’t think naman na in general media groups will, you know (act on their own). When you say media groups, may reporters, may editors, boss ganyan, hindi naman ginagawa ng media groups as a whole yan, these are individuals na ganyan nagaganap,” said Cayetano.

Cayetano earlier claimed that big media companies were paid massive amounts of funds to annihilate him and the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) with a barrage of “fake news.”

But in a separate interview with radio DZMM, Cayetano seems to have refuted his statement over those trying to smear the name of the country or the SEA Games, and now sees no problem for media reporting negative impression in the country’s hosting the bi-annual sporting event.

“Hindi po, hindi po. To be fair even like ABS-CBN naglabas sila kung anong fake at anong totoo even yung hindi siguradong totoo…,” Cayetano when asked if he’s against the negative reporting on SEA Games.

Cayetano said he and PHISGOC will stil pursue charges against a “PR man” and those behind Facebook pages and websites spreading hoaxes and false information against the hosting of SEA Games.

At least four Facebook pages and websites were the fake news against SEA Games originated have already been identified.

“Meron pong at least apat na Facebook pages at website na doon nagsisimula lahat tapos, ikinakalat to the same groups,” said Cayetano.