By Analou De Vera The reports circulating on social media about men in a white van who allegedly abducts children may discourage individuals to become organ donors, a member of the Philippine Society of Transplant Surgeons (PSTS) said. The reports of some missing individuals in certain cities that were recently circulating online may be a "cause of concern" as it may taint the image of the organ donation and transplantation program of the government. "Alam mo naman ang Pilipino naniniwala minsan sa fake news tapos malaking impact (on the program) yung 'kinuha ka nga ng white van ,'" said PSTS member Dr. Rehana Pallingayan during the Department of Health (DOH) media forum in Dagupan, Pangasinan. "With white van kasi, yung thinking 'kapag kinuha ka (is) because may gusto silang kunin na organ sayo tapos itatapon ka na...' so iyon yung fear. Syempre alam mo naman yung imagination ng tao pinagtatagpi-tagpi na nila ," she added. Due to such news, Pallingayan said that some people "equate" organ donation with organ trafficking. "I heard with people na 'ayokong mag sign up, because once I sign up kukunin nila ako ( ‘I do not want to sign up because if I sign up, they will abduct me),'" she said. Pallingayan assured that the list of organ donors is strictly confidential. “The registry cannot be made public, not even the number. We don’t release them as it is covered by the Data Privacy Act,” she said. Pallingayan believes that by educating the public about organ donation, particularly the youth, the number of those who will be willing to donate would rise. "That is why it is important for us to educate everyone---public dissemination of information--patient education na organ donation is not organ trafficking para hindi sila matakot--iyon ang importante doon ," said Pallingayan. "Kasi ngayon yung parang target (encourage to donate) natin yung younger age group...If we are going to target that group importante na sana walang ganoong mga fake news...So, these are the people who are active on social media, may access. So kung ganoon ang nakikita nila sa social media, malaki impact nun sa program ," she added. Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said that social media posts about alleged abduction of children by men riding in a white van are fake news. Read more: No men in white van snatching children — PNP