Cebu lawyer nabbed for disclosure of COVID-19 patients on FB

March 29, 2020

A 50-year-old lawyer was arrested in Cebu City for allegedly revealing personal information of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Central Visayas police Regional Director, Police Brigadier General Albert Ferro, said Rommel Rosito was arrested at Fairview Hills, Basak Pardo, Cebu City last Friday morning for posting a list of COVID-19 patients on his Facebook account.

Ferro said the lawyer will face charges for violating the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Events of Public Health Concern Act, the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and the Cyber Crime Prevention Act of 2012.

He also warned the public against unauthorized disclosure of information as this might put patients into uncomfortable situation and stir further panic in the region.

"The Philippine National Police is serious in our campaign against hoax news through cyber patrol operations with the support of PNP Cyber Crime Group 7 and monitoring on all social media platforms especially if committed during a period of national emergency," he said.

The regional director urged the public to stay at home and stay safe to help frontliners fighting the virus instead of spreading information that will just cause panic and alarm. Ella Dionisio/DMS