(POLITIKO) Senator Jinggoy Estrada has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into advertisements using the likeness of celebrities without their permission.
In Resolution No. 666, Estrada said some online ads featuring a celebrity’s likeness mislead the consumers into buying products which are unregistered or which are not proven effective.
“These advertisements mislead consumers into believing that these celebrities are using and endorsing food and medicinal products that are actually unregistered before the proper health authorities and not yet approved for mass distribution and public consumption,” he said.
The senator cited a false product endorsement bearing the face of celebrity doctor Willie Ong that promotes mixed nuts as a “miracle food,” and another fake ad of health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon endorsing a cure for diabetes.
“The circulation and proliferation of fraudulent online advertisements are clear and blatant violations of the Consumer Act, which penalizes the dissemination of deceptive and misleading sales promotion practices,” Estrada said.
Estrada said there is a need to amend laws on consumer products to crack down on misleading and false product endorsements.
“There is an urgent need to protect consumers against the consumption of unregistered and potentially harmful food and health products through the strict enforcement of the provisions of the Consumer Act and regulation of fraudulent advertisements on social media platforms,” he said.