In response to ‘fake news’ circulating in Bulacan,
VG Castro called on DILG, PNP to heighten verification methods
CITY OF MALOLOS – Bulacan Vice Governor Alexis C. Castro has called on the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to intensify their monitoring and verification of information in response to unverified alarming posts circulating on social media that caused panic to the residents of Bulacan.
Castro has summoned the Committee on Peace and Order and Committee on Communication, Information, Technology, and Mass Media for a hearing on Thursday, February 13, held at the Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Hall in the Capitol here, including the individuals involved in the said spread of misinfromation.
“Marami sa mga post na ito ang walang beripikasyon o kumpirmasyon mula sa ating kapulisan o anumang opisyal na ahensiya ng ating pamahalaan. Bagama’t mahalaga ang pagbibigay-babala o awareness sa publiko, ang pagpapakalat ng pekeng balita o hindi beripikadong impormasyon ay may seryosong epeketo. Maaaring magdulot ito ng takot, galit, maling akusasyon, kaguluhan sa ating komunidad,” Castro said in his privilege speech.
Vien Arceo from Brgy. Poblacion in Pulilan, was invited to the hearing after he posted a thread on Facebook with a banner that says, “Hindi na safe sa Bulacan,” which garnered more than 5,000 likes. Christian Daet, secretary of Brgy. Taliptip in Bulakan, was also invited to the hearing after he published a post on his own Facebook page, narrating a hold-up incident in their area.
These posts, although intended for public awareness, were not fully verified and only caused alarm to the public, according to Bulacan-PNP Provincial Director PCol. Satur L. Ediong.
“When we verified ‘yung iba’t ibang krimen diumano na sinasabi sa mga post, we found out that they were not true and mostly were for content. Iyong mga reported naman po sa atin ay ginagawan ng aksyon ng ating kapulisan na huluhin at kasuhan. In fact, may mga nakasuhan na at nahuli na tayo,” Ediong said.
He also emphasized the efforts the Bulacan Provincial Police Office (PPO) in curbing the crime rate in the province, highlighting their effective campaign against the “agaw motorsiklo”, white van kidnapping narratives, and hold-upping incidents.
“Isa na din po sa mga agresibong aksyon ng kapulisan ng Bulacan ay ang paghuli ng mga myembro ng Kriminal Gang na sangkot sa iba’t ibang krimen tulad po ng gun for hire, gun- running, robbery hold-ups at iba pa kung saan nahuli ng ating kapulisan si Jimbo Lorenzana Y Orolfo, member ng Fernando Criminal Gang at Lorenzana Criminal Gang noong January 23, Raymond Lorenzana Y Orolfo, leader of Lorenzana Criminal Gang noong October 27, 2024, at Arnold Fernando Y Gonzales, leader of Fernando Criminal Gang noong March 28, 2024,” Ediong added.
Moreover, Castro highlighted some of the laws that could be filed against those who are disseminating false information including Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines or the Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances, Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and the Special Laws on False information or Republic Act 10951 – Amendment to the Revised Penal Code.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, tandaan po natin na ang isang maling impormasyon ay maaaring makasira ng buhay. Huwag tayong maging kasangkapan ng maling balita. Tumulong tayo sa pagpapalaganap ng katotohanan, hindi ng kasinungalingan,” Castro said.
Also present during the hearing were Provincial Administrator Antonia V. Constantino, Board Members Cezar Mendoza, Arthur Legaspi, Renato De Guzman, Jr., Enrique Delos Santos, Richard Roque, and Fortunato Angeles, Bulacan Press Club President Omar Padilla, and other resource speakers from the DILG, National Bureau of Investigation, Provincial Information Office, Provincial Public Affairs Office, Governor’s Office and Provincial Legal Office. ###