KINASUHAN ng Philippine National Police ang apat katao na nagpakalat umano ng maling ulat at impormasyon kaugnay ng coronavirus disease 2019 na nagdulot umano ng panic sa publiko.
Sinampahan ng kaso ng PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group si Maria Diane Serrano (Maddie Serrano), ng Brgy. Banaynay, Cabuyao City, Laguna, matapos umano ang masusing imbestigasyon ng Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 4A (CALABARZON).
Si Serrano umano ang nagpakalat ng ulat na: “a patient positive for COVID-19 was admitted and died at the Global Medical Center Inc of Cabuyao” noong nakaraang buwan.
Ang Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 7 (Central Visayas) ay nagsagawa naman ng fact-checking at information validation at natukoy ang tatlong residente ng Lapu-Lapu City na nagpakalat umano ng maling impormasyon kaugnay ng COVID-19 outbreak.
Kinasuhan umano ng Lapu-Lapu City PNP at lokal na pamahalaan sina Fritz John Menguito, Sherlyn Solis, at Mae Ann Pino sa Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutors Office.
Sila ay nahaharap sa kasong Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances sa ilalim ng Article 154 ng Revised Penal Code as Amended in relation to Sec 4c4 (Online Libel) at Section 6 ng Anti-Cybercrime Law (Republic Act 10175).
“Time and again, we urge the public to refrain from posting and sharing unreliable and unverified reports and information on the pandemic that may cause panic and fear,” ani PNP Spokesperson Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac.