THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) warned the public that spreading false information on social media is not only irresponsible but also punishable by law.
Anyone found guilty of posting and spreading malicious information may face legal consequences under Article 154, Paragraph 1 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 10951, in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).
This law penalizes online libel and the dissemination of false information that causes public disorder.
Recently, a viral post falsely claimed that a kidnapping incident occurred in Los Amigos, Davao City, involving students who were allegedly forced into a white van.
Upon investigation, personnel from Police Station 20 – Los Amigos exerted efforts to locate the students, only to discover that they had skipped classes, boarded a public utility vehicle, and went to a mall before proceeding to a resort.
With the assistance of their adviser, the students were successfully located and turned over to their respective parents.
Coordination was also made with the barangay’s assigned social worker to ensure the student’s well-being.
DCPO acting director Col. Hansel Marantan said the DCPO remains committed to providing immediate police response to any calls for assistance and intervention.
However, the spread of false information causes unnecessary panic, misleads the public, and wastes valuable police resources.
“Such misinformation diverts attention from real emergencies and undermines public trust in law enforcement,” Marantan said.
“Once again, we urge the public to be responsible and to verify information before sharing it on social media,” he added.
Moreover, he said, “The safety and well-being of the community are our top priorities, and we encourage everyone to rely only on credible sources, such as official police pages and verified news networks.”
” Let us work together to maintain peace and order by promoting truth and accuracy in information sharing,” he further said.
