Bacolod City—Top city officials here have warned Bacolodnons to be wary of fake social media accounts using their names to deceive the public.
Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran have been victimized by “posers” on Facebook.
Gasataya posted on his official personal account Greg Gasataya a screenshot of the fake fan page using his name.
“Warning! The page below is not my account. This is a fake one. Sugod na sila [They are starting to do it],” the lawmaker wrote on Sunday.
For his part, Leonardia said in a separate interview he was also informed on Sunday about the latest fake Facebook page in his name, which has posts making him look funny and ridiculous.
“I’m sure that the purpose is to discredit me or to destroy me. I ask the people of Bacolod not to believe these,” the mayor said on Tuesday.
Screenshots of the fake “Mayor Bing Leonardia” account are posted on the Facebook page of the Bacolod City Public Information Office with hashtags “FakeAccount,” “NotRealMayorBing” and “Sabotage.”
According to the Bacolod City PIO, the mayor maintains two official sites on Facebook. These are the Evelio “Bing” Leonardia, which is a fan page, and the Bing Leonardia, which is a personal account.
The mayor appealed to those behind these fake social media accounts not to involve the public in their political attacks against him.
The page, named “Cong. Greg Gasataya,” used a cover photo with the words “Congressman Greg Gasataya Basketball” accompanied by a profile photo of his image posted on the 17th Congress Neophytes website.
In a media interview, Gasataya said his office uses his social media accounts as a tool to inform the residents of Bacolod about his various initiatives.
“But once it is used to create confusion and trouble, and bring misinformation, we will not allow that. I appeal to the people to be vigilant of these fake social media accounts,” he said.
Gasataya noted the fake Facebook page that surfaced on Sunday was the latest that used his name, adding that he has previously reported at least two accounts set up by “posers.”
Meanwhile, Familiaran posted on his Facebook personal account on Monday a screenshot of the fake “El Cid Familiaran” page.
The vice mayor uses the name “El Cid Montilla Familiaran” on his official account.
The vice mayor, presently on official travel to the United States, warned Bacolodnons in a radio interview on Tuesday about the fake page, which quoted him attacking a former city mayor belonging to another political party.
“It’s not my style of politics to attack my opponent,” he said.