PNP building cases vs group spreading fake news

April 3, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said they are building up cases against a group behind the most recent fake news in social media about an alleged raid in The Medical City confiscating their personal protective equipment (PPE) for the benefit of one senator.

In a statement released last Thursday night, Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said Medical City management debunked the fake news report circulated in a private group chat named “Chevening Alumni-Ph”.

“Case build-up operations are underway against the authors of the most recent fake news item on Facebook that reported the alleged police raid at The Medical City where some pieces of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were allegedly confiscated,” Gamboa said.

“Let me emphasize again that disinformation is not helping us in this battle with an unseen enemy… Fake news is a crime that we must not allow to affect our lives especially not at this moment or any other time,” he said.

Gamboa said the PNP has so far uncovered 20 incidents of fake news since the Enhanced Community Quarantine took effect last March 17.

Five suspects were arrested for allegedly spreading fake news on social media portals that caused people to panic.

“They are among 24 persons named respondents in 32 complaints filed for inquest or preliminary investigation for violations of law on Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code as Amended in relation to Sec 4c4 (Online Libel) and Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Anti-Cybercrime Law,” Gamboa said.

Gamboa told the public to analyze news through a quick test of reliability of source and information.

“Fake news deserve to be ignored and not passed on to others,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS