SK officer, blogger face charges over ‘fake news’  

MANILA, Philippines — A Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officer and a blogger are among the latest netizens who could face charges for posting false information about alleged crimes in Quezon City.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) is readying charges of unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code against James Aldrich Amora, SK kagawad of Barangay Sangandaan, and blogger Eric Batac.

QCPD director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the two are among the people who are being held accountable for posting on social media platforms alleged crimes that turned out to be hoaxes.

“We will track those persons who spread fake news on social media at kung mapatunayang may paglabag sa batas ay kakasuhan natin sila (and if proven to have violated the law, we will charge them),” Torre said in a statement.

Last Aug. 24, Amora posted on Facebook an alleged abduction of two girls by people in a white van. Police declared the post as a hoax following an investigation.

The SK official later posted a public apology on his Facebook account on Sept. 5.

Batac, meanwhile, claimed on his Facebook account that a suspect in a stabbing last Sept. 19 would be released by the police after the victim was not able to give his statement.

The QCPD earlier filed charges against a certain Marichu Ramos, who claimed she was abducted, only to later admit that she made up the incident.

Torre also denied the supposed discovery of a dismembered body near White Plains, adding it was the same information in 2017 that police branded as a hoax.

Mayor Joy Belmonte warned netizens not to post or share unverified information that only sow confusion and fear among the public.

“When posting on Facebook, please be mindful and be a responsible social media user,” she said.