PANGASINAN – Let this be a warning to irresponsible Facebook users who are fond of posting fake news.
The Pangasinan Police Provincial Office is set to file charges against Mary Joy Estaris, 25, and resident of Brgy. Casanfernandoan, Pozorrubio, Pangasinan.
Estaris is the owner of a Facebook account which the police said violated Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to section 6 of RA 10175 or ‘Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.’
The violation stemmed from posting a fake report on a foiled kidnapping incident perpetrated by unidentified men in a black van.
The police denounced the Facebook post which they said misled the readers, thereby causing panic, fear, alarm, anxiety and endangered the public order and safety of every citizen.
A certain ‘Amyr Jhoy Docusin Estaris’ posted on her Facebook account that a victim was forcibly taken by unknown men in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan on board a black van but managed to escape.
Police immediately conducted cyber patrolling regarding the post and thorough investigation was conducted on the alleged place of incident including interview with the alleged victim, her neighbors and possible witnesses.
The investigators also reviewed the CCTV installed in the place if there were footage that would support the allegation in the Facebook post.
Probers learned from the facts and circumstances surrounding the case that the reported alleged kidnapping incident was baseless and did not actually happen.
In coordination and with the help of PNP Anti-CyberCrime Group 1, appropriate charges were being readied against the Facebook user.
"Be a responsible social media user! The PNP encourages each one to be cautious and think before posting/uploading information with a strong message of value,” the police said.
“Pangasinan PPO would like to inform the public once again that there is no reported kidnapping nor kidnapping groups operating within the province; spreading fake news is a crime indeed," said OIC Col. Jeff E Fanged.