Task force says gov’t officials, personalities violating quarantine are targets of social media monitoring

September 7, 2020

The commander of the Joint Task Force Shield on Monday assured the public that government officials and prominent personalities who are violating quarantine protocols are the targets in their social media monitoring.

Police Lt. General Guillermo Eleazar made this clarification after the statement they released last Saturday on social media monitoring drew flak due to privacy violation concerns.

“The public has nothing to fear because our target here is prominent individuals and government officials. Why? Because they are easy to identity and they go viral at the same time,” Eleazar said in a press briefing.

Eleazar said those who will be caught violating quarantine protocols through social media will not be arrested and will undergo validation.

“We will not arrest anybody here. It will serve as a basis for further investigation but first it has to be validated. It is possible that it is fake so once we validate it, then we will also get the cooperation of the barangays for them to be investigated," he said.

"In fact, we are empowering our barangay residents to provide information,” he said.

According to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Camilo Cascolan, they were compliant with the Data Privacy Act.

Cascolan said the public can file a case against the cop who will be violating the law.

He reminded everyone to be responsible in what they post in social media.

“Social media, it's a responsibility on each individual… If you abuse it, it’s not good right?” Cascolan said.

Last Saturday, upon the orders of the PNP chief, Eleazar instructed all police commanders and their men to regularly monitor social media for violations of quarantine protocols, as mass gatherings for drinking sessions and other forms of celebrations are posted by netizens online.

Eleazar said there are also other Facebook pages which post photos and videos of quarantine protocol violations on the streets that would be captured by Closed Circuit Television (CCTVs) and dashcams. Ella Dionisio/DMS