MANILA: A community youth officer and a blogger are in hot soup for allegedly posting false information related to criminal activities in Quezon City.
The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officer, James Aldrich Amora and blogger Eric Batac allegedly posted information about crimes which turn out to be hoaxes, the Philstar.com portal reported.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) is now preparing charges of unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code against the duo.
QCPD director Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III said they will be held accountable for posting hoaxes on social media platforms.
"We will track those persons who spread fake news on social media and if proven to have violated the law, we will charge them," Torre said in a statement.
Last Aug 24, Amora posted on Facebook an alleged abduction of two girls by people in a white van. It was later ascertained to be fake. The SK official later posted a public apology on his Facebook account on Sept. 5.
Batac, meanwhile, claimed on his Facebook account that a suspect in a stabbing last Sept. 19 would be released by the police after the victim was not able to give his statement. The woman later admitted she made up the incident.
Mayor Joy Belmonte warned netizens not to post or share unverified information that only sow confusion and fear among the public. "When posting on Facebook, please be mindful and be a responsible social media user," she said.