DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) reiterated its stern warning to the public against posting unverified information online and encouraged the Dabawenyos to be responsible social media users in the wake of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
This came after a netizen filmed and posted on Facebook Tuesday, May 12, a woman who was cornered along Roxas Avenue.
Franco Gonzalez claimed that the woman is the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patient who reportedly escaped from an isolation facility.
His post drew thousands of viewers who unanimously expressed apprehension over the incident, fearing that the woman may cause contamination.
DCPO Director Police Colonel Kirby John Kraft said Wednesday, May 13, that the Facebook user may face legal charges if proven that he is spreading wrong information that is causing unnecessary panic.
"Meron po tayo proseso dyan. Kailangan makakuha muna ang DCPO Cybercrime Response Team at Racu 11 (Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit Davao) 'yung link o video para ma-exploit natin at ma-determine kung merong violation 'yung tao gaya ng spreading of fake news causing public alarm," Kraft said.
Kraft, however, clarified, that the woman who was rescued is not the female Covid-19 patient who escaped from the city's isolation facilities.
He said the woman is a mentally-ill person. A patrol car took her home together with her husband.
"Think first before posting anything in social media as this may cause you a criminal case in the future. What has been done cannot be undone especially posting on social media. Be cautious," he said.
On Tuesday, May 12, the netizen took down his post after receiving flak over his false information.
Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, a person or group spreading false information shall be punished with imprisonment of a two-month jail sentence or a fine of P10,000 to P1 million, or both.
In section 6 (f), violators of this law are those perpetrating, or spreading false information regarding Covid-19 crisis on social media and other platforms, such information having no valid or beneficial effect on the population, and are clearly geared to promote chaos, panic, anarchy, fear, or confusion; and those participating in cyber incidents that make use or take advantage of the current crisis situation to prey on the public through scams, phishing, fraudulent emails, or other similar acts.
As of Wednesday, May 13, authorities are still looking for the patient who broke out of the isolation facility. Health officials feared that the woman may cause contamination if she will not be found sooner.
The City Government of Davao released the cartographic sketch of the patient to hasten the identification and search operation.
She is a resident of Purok 4, Isla Verde, Barangay 23-C in Davao City, between 20 to 24 years old, and has a lump on the left side of her neck.