PNP files raps vs. four peddlers of fake news about COVID-19
Published Mar 27, 2020 12:00 am
By Martin Sadongdong
Beware: peddlers spreading fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic may land in jail.
Philippine National Police (MANILA BULLETIN)
The Philippine National Police (PNP) reiterated this warning on Friday as it filed criminal charges against four individuals who allegedly spread false information about COVID-19.
Charged by the PNP's anti-cybercrime group (ACG) were Maria Diane Serrano, of Cabuyao, Laguna; and Fritz John Menguito, Sherlyn Solis and Mae Ann Pino, all of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu for violating Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code as amended, in relation to Sections 4 and 6 of Republic Act No. 10175.
Article 154 of the RPC or the "Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances" punishes any individual who causes the publication of false news which may endanger public order, or cause damage to the interest or credit of the state.
Meanwhile, RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 prohibits content-related offenses which may be committed through the use of a computer system.
Section 4 of RA No. 10175 refers to "System Interference" or the intentional alteration or reckless hindering or interference with a functioning computer or network by inputting, transmitting, damaging, deleting, deteriorating, altering or suppressing computer data or program, electronic document, or electronic data message without right or authority, including the introduction or transmission of viruses.
On the other hand, section 6 of the same law refers to "Cybersquatting" or the acquisition of a domain name over the internet in bad faith to profit, mislead, destroy reputation, and deprive others from registering  the same.
"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," said Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson.
The PNP-ACG said that Serrano was charged with causing panic in her community in Barangay Banaynay by reportedly spreading false information that a coronavirus-positive patient had been admitted and later died at the Global Medical Center Inc. in Cabuyao town in February.
Meanwhile, the ACG's regional office in Central Visayas (ACG-7) said that Menguito, Solis and Pino are being held "responsible for spreading unverified and false information on the status of the COVID-19 outbeak" in the city.
Philippine National Police (MANILA BULLETIN)
The Philippine National Police (PNP) reiterated this warning on Friday as it filed criminal charges against four individuals who allegedly spread false information about COVID-19.
Charged by the PNP's anti-cybercrime group (ACG) were Maria Diane Serrano, of Cabuyao, Laguna; and Fritz John Menguito, Sherlyn Solis and Mae Ann Pino, all of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu for violating Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code as amended, in relation to Sections 4 and 6 of Republic Act No. 10175.
Article 154 of the RPC or the "Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances" punishes any individual who causes the publication of false news which may endanger public order, or cause damage to the interest or credit of the state.
Meanwhile, RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 prohibits content-related offenses which may be committed through the use of a computer system.
Section 4 of RA No. 10175 refers to "System Interference" or the intentional alteration or reckless hindering or interference with a functioning computer or network by inputting, transmitting, damaging, deleting, deteriorating, altering or suppressing computer data or program, electronic document, or electronic data message without right or authority, including the introduction or transmission of viruses.
On the other hand, section 6 of the same law refers to "Cybersquatting" or the acquisition of a domain name over the internet in bad faith to profit, mislead, destroy reputation, and deprive others from registering  the same.
"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," said Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson.
The PNP-ACG said that Serrano was charged with causing panic in her community in Barangay Banaynay by reportedly spreading false information that a coronavirus-positive patient had been admitted and later died at the Global Medical Center Inc. in Cabuyao town in February.
Meanwhile, the ACG's regional office in Central Visayas (ACG-7) said that Menguito, Solis and Pino are being held "responsible for spreading unverified and false information on the status of the COVID-19 outbeak" in the city.