DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 29 August) – Police urged netizens to stop posting “misinformation” about alleged crimes, including robbery and kidnapping incidents, in Davao City on social media to avoid giving the wrong notion about the public order here.
Maj. Ma. Teresita P. Gaspan, Davao City Police Office spokesperson, said during an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) on Monday that the netizens should avoid posting malicious contents regarding the city’s peace and order situation.
She also urged the public to be more discerning of the posts that they read online by verifying the sources of the information.
“We enjoy our right to freedom of expression but let’s be responsible with what we post that could cause greater damage, particularly when it comes to our peace and order,” she said.
Gaspan said the police would take legal action against individuals responsible for spreading “false information” online.
In a statement last August 27, the Police Regional Office-Davao said it would file criminal charges against a certain Charles Japheth Lagradante Luzada, an 18-year-old student from Toril Davao City, for posting on his social media account about alleged rampant robbery incidents in Davao.
It said investigators are preparing complaints for violation of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, which penalizes publishing or causing to be published “as news any false news which may endanger the public order, or cause damage to the interest or credit of the State.”
Under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 or Republic Act No. 10175, higher penalties are imposed “for crimes committed by, through, and with the use of information and communications technologies.”
Under Republic Act 10951, the penalty for violations of Article 154 shall be imprisonment for six months and a fine ranging from P40,000 to P200,000.
Gaspan added the police would pursue the complaints against Luzada even if he already issued a public apology.
She assured the public that there is no let-up in the efforts of the local police to maintain the peace and order situation in the city, particularly in all schools to enure the safety of the students.
She said police provided security detail and maintained a police assistance desk in every school. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
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