BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran urged netizens to stop posting unverified reports on social media and be responsible with their posts.
“We should be careful on sharing or posting news on social media because irresponsible posting can create fear to the public,” Familiaran said.
He said that messages were circulating on social media about the alleged presence of kidnapping group from Manila and victimizing children and teenagers in Negros Occidental and the message was allegedly from Bacolod police.
“This is an old message circulating on social media so let’s stop spreading it,” he added.
Familiaran noted that he also read some posts on social media that they failed to go to school because of their fear of an alleged kidnapping group.
“We should validate the report first with our authorities and the media if it’s true,” Familiaran said.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, spokesperson of Bacolod City Police Office, also said that they are not the source of the hoax messages circulating on social media about the alleged presence of kidnapping group in Negros Occidental.
“We are not the source of that message. We don’t issue a statement or information without legal basis or directive from the regional office or national headquarters or from the national police commission,” he said.
Pico said the message is a hoax and it only creates panic to the public.
Pico added that they are coordinating with various police stations while he asked the cooperation of the Bacolodnons to stop spreading hoax messages to avoid causing fear. (MAP)