Police Chief Oscar Albayalde on Friday tasked the Anti-Cybercrime Group to go after people spreading “fake crime” reports on social media.
He gave the order after the police received information that there were several social media posts about a string of supposed robberies that took place in Quezon City establishments in the past few days.
He also said the authorities had released the 474 Filipinos who were arrested in the Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City for their alleged involvement in a multi-million dollar online stock trading scam.
The Filipinos were released “upon the recommendation of the inquest prosecutors of the Department of Justice to refer their case for further investigation.”
The Filipinos were employees of International Branding and Development Marketing Inc.
“The charge against them remains and they will be given a chance to file their counter-affidavits,” PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group Director Marni Marcos Jr. said in a text message.
Metro Manila Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar and Quezon City Police Chief Joselito Esquivel Jr. belied the posts on social media, particularly an alleged robbery in a restaurant on Times Street and another robbery at a coffee shop on Banawe Street.
Albayalde said they will file appropriate charges against the people dishing out disinformation on social media.
“Disgruntled cops” who have been dismissed from the police service could also be possibly involved, according to Albayalde.
“We’ve given a directive to the Anti-Cybercrime Group to possibly identify who are those spreading fake news,” Albayalde said.
“That is being worked on by our ACG and after we identify those people, we can file appropriate charges.”