NBI summons Mocha for fake news

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has summoned Overseas Workers Welfare Administration deputy administrator Mocha Uson for allegedly spreading fake news amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

In a subpoena dated April 29, Uson was ordered to appear at the NBI cybercrime division office on May 18 to answer the complaint filed against her by netizens Angelo Landagan and Shaira Agting.

The subpoena was signed by NBI officer-in-charge Eric Distor and deputy director for investigation service Vicente de Guzman III.

NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin confirmed that a subpoena was served on Uson.

“This only proves that even allies of President Duterte are not spared from quarantine protocols,” Lavin said.

“If there’s violation and evidence, then we will conduct an investigation,” he added.

Uson faces probe over a Facebook post lauding the government’s purchase of personal protective equipment.

But she posted a photo of frontliners wearing the PPEs donated by a supermarket chain.

Calls to investigate Uson came after the NBI summoned three netizens for allegedly spreading fake news on social media during the quarantine, in violation of the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act.