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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider PNP creates task force vs netizens peddling fake news 


PNP creates task force vs netizens peddling fake news 


Published Mar 24, 2020 12:00 am
  By Aaron Recuenco Police have created a task force that would run after purveyors of fake news relating to the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in social media. (MANILA BULLETIN) Philippine National Police (MANILA BULLETIN) Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, deputy chief for Operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said that the move is aimed at punishing some people who take advantage of the panic of the people to sow fear by fabricating claims and other stories. Eleazar said that it was PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa who took the initiative of creating the task force in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). Dubbed as Task Force Covid Kontra Peke, Eleazar said the unit will spend time monitoring COVID-related posts in the social media and identify netizens who could be held liable for spreading fake news. “We will identify these fake news peddlers sowing disinformation,” said Eleazar during the Laging Handa briefing on Tuesday. A few days ago, police arrested a local inventor and his son for making false claims and selling alleged medicine for COVID 19. Eleazar said spreading fake news about COVID-19 only aggravates the problem in addressing the viral infection as the public is getting confused since it takes advantage of the people’s perception on the issue. “We should be responsible to what we post or share in our social media accounts,” said Eleazar. On the part of the government, Eleazar said there have been social media sites created in order for the public to get credible information about COVID-19. He said media entities are also doing their share in order to give accurate and reliable information about the problem. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7swp46
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