PNP identifying netizens

MANILA - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde said Friday, June 8, said he ordered the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to identify the netizens responsible for posting and spreading of “fake crimes” on social media.

He said the ACG will also look at the possibility that the “disgruntled” members of the PNP who were kicked out from the service were behind the fake news.

“I have given directive to the ACG to possibly identify kung sino ‘yung mga nagkakalat ng mga

fake news na ito (who are spreading fake news) and it’s also possible na pwede rin ‘yung mga disgruntled o mga natanggal sa aming hanay ang mga nagkakakalat din ng mga ganito (disgruntled or

dismissed men could also be behind this),” he said.

“It’s because sila ang may idea kung paano sirain o palabasin na (they would know how to make it appear that) we have very bad peace and order situation in our country,” he added.

Albayalde said these people will be slapped with appropriate charges.

Earlier, National Capital Region Police Office Director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar warned the public of fake news being spread on social media about the alleged crimes happening around the Metro.

Quezon City Police Director Joselito Esquivel has denied the reports following the conduct of investigation.

Among the fake news were posts about various robbery incidents in several restaurants and the presence of suspected terrorists who are pretending to be health workers to spread virus through injection.