DILG warns public against nCoV fake news infographic
Published Feb 11, 2020 12:00 am
By Chito Chavez
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) clarified that the strict implementation of the 14-day quarantine provided in DILG Memo Circular 2020-023 (Amended Guide to Action against the 2019 Novel Coronavirus) refers only to travelers from China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
This infographic, denounced by the Department of the Interior and Local Government as false information, went viral on social media. DILG warned purveyors of fake information that they would be arrested.
DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya issued the clarification after an infographic not issued by the department alleged that a 14-day quarantine period was issued with regard to 23 countries.
Malaya described the spurious infographic as having listed South Korea, Vietnam, Sweden, Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, Finland, Nepal, Canada, Italy, Russian Federation, Spain, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, United Kingdom, United States, France, India, Sri Lanka, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates as countries included by the government in the 14-day quarantine period.
However, Malaya said that all travelers aside from those coming from China, Hong Kong, and Macau may undergo voluntary quarantine.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año warned the unscrupulous groups spreading lies about the virus to stop now before the law catches up with them.
“The unauthorized and patently illegal infographic went viral and caused panic among travelers who wanted to cancel their travel plans because of the misrepresentation of these people. It has become absurd and worrisome,” Malaya said.
“Again, we urge the public to trust only official sources of information and to verify first before sharing. Think first before you click,” he added.
Fake news purveyors
Año on Tuesday directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to leave no stone unturned in the arrest of groups or individuals spreading fake news about nCoV to the public.
“We will go after the perpetrators of false information on coronavirus because their acts are inimical to the interest of the general public,” Año said.
With the country facing the nCoV problem, Año emphasized the need to end this “nuisance activity. Let's not propagate erroneous information that is more viral than the virus itself. We already have enough on our plate.”
“Hindi po sila nakakatulong sa paglutas ng ating problema, bagkus mas pinapalala pa nila ang problema (They are not helping solve the problem, but rather they are making the problem worse)," he added.
With his order, Año expects the PNP to intensify their moves against those “guilty of spreading false information on the issue on various social media platforms.”
"Freedom of expression has limitations, especially when its exercise threatens the welfare of the public. We must put an end to fake news on social media,” he said.
Malaya said the PNP's Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), which investigates crimes using information and communications technology, is capable of tracing and tracking fake news perpetrators on the Internet. It is currently verifying six suspected fake news posts on the coronavirus on social media.
"The PNP-ACG is working hard to detect the whereabouts of these law offenders. We expect arrests to be made soon," Malaya said.
He explained that Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, on the Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances, punishes purveyors of fake news.
He added that the same provision penalizes a person who causes the publication of any false news which may endanger the public order, or cause damage to the interest or credit of the State.
Violators face imprisonment of one to six months and a fine ranging from P40,000 to P200,000. They can also be punished under Republic Act No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
“These laws are created for a reason -- to punish law offenders," Malaya said.
This infographic, denounced by the Department of the Interior and Local Government as false information, went viral on social media. DILG warned purveyors of fake information that they would be arrested.
DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya issued the clarification after an infographic not issued by the department alleged that a 14-day quarantine period was issued with regard to 23 countries.
Malaya described the spurious infographic as having listed South Korea, Vietnam, Sweden, Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, Finland, Nepal, Canada, Italy, Russian Federation, Spain, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, United Kingdom, United States, France, India, Sri Lanka, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates as countries included by the government in the 14-day quarantine period.
However, Malaya said that all travelers aside from those coming from China, Hong Kong, and Macau may undergo voluntary quarantine.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año warned the unscrupulous groups spreading lies about the virus to stop now before the law catches up with them.
“The unauthorized and patently illegal infographic went viral and caused panic among travelers who wanted to cancel their travel plans because of the misrepresentation of these people. It has become absurd and worrisome,” Malaya said.
“Again, we urge the public to trust only official sources of information and to verify first before sharing. Think first before you click,” he added.
Fake news purveyors
Año on Tuesday directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to leave no stone unturned in the arrest of groups or individuals spreading fake news about nCoV to the public.
“We will go after the perpetrators of false information on coronavirus because their acts are inimical to the interest of the general public,” Año said.
With the country facing the nCoV problem, Año emphasized the need to end this “nuisance activity. Let's not propagate erroneous information that is more viral than the virus itself. We already have enough on our plate.”
“Hindi po sila nakakatulong sa paglutas ng ating problema, bagkus mas pinapalala pa nila ang problema (They are not helping solve the problem, but rather they are making the problem worse)," he added.
With his order, Año expects the PNP to intensify their moves against those “guilty of spreading false information on the issue on various social media platforms.”
"Freedom of expression has limitations, especially when its exercise threatens the welfare of the public. We must put an end to fake news on social media,” he said.
Malaya said the PNP's Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), which investigates crimes using information and communications technology, is capable of tracing and tracking fake news perpetrators on the Internet. It is currently verifying six suspected fake news posts on the coronavirus on social media.
"The PNP-ACG is working hard to detect the whereabouts of these law offenders. We expect arrests to be made soon," Malaya said.
He explained that Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, on the Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances, punishes purveyors of fake news.
He added that the same provision penalizes a person who causes the publication of any false news which may endanger the public order, or cause damage to the interest or credit of the State.
Violators face imprisonment of one to six months and a fine ranging from P40,000 to P200,000. They can also be punished under Republic Act No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
“These laws are created for a reason -- to punish law offenders," Malaya said.