By Jigger J. Jerusalem.
A WOMAN is facing charges for allegedly spreading false information on social media regarding the government’s effort to extend help to residents affected by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 10 said Thursday.
The person referred to by the agency was identified as one Marieta Lucagbo, who, based on the screenshots provided by DSWD-10 to reporters, posted on her Facebook that DSWD-10 will be giving P8,000 each to beneficiaries.
Oliver Inodeo, DSWD-10 information officer, said they received report that Lucagbo posted the information late Wednesday night.
“You go to DSWD tomorrow [Thursday] in front of Cepalco. You are to fill out 2 forms. We were the first to visited by DSWD in its house to house since we are near their office. God bless. It’s not at the barangay, they passed it on to the DSWD,”
the post reads in Visayan.
Right across the DSWD-10 regional office is the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co. (Cepalco).
Lucagbo is said to be a 65-year- old woman living in a housing subdivision in Barangay Balulang, this city, near the DSWD-10 office.
A few minutes later, she again posted: “It’s true. The DSWD has conducted a house to house here at Xavier Heights. We filled out 2 forms, they will then deliver to houses. God bless.”
One of the screenshots included a photo of an envelope containing what appeared to be P1,000 bills and written on the outside of the envelope was “Stay at home! God bless. P8,000.”
Inodeo said they posted their official statement on Facebook less than an hour after Lucagbo made the post.
As of this writing, Lucagbo’s account on Facebook can no longer be accessed.
In its statement, DSWD-10 called Lucagbo’s post as “untruthful” and meant to “deceive the people, especially those who are waiting for aid from the national government.”
“The DSWD Field Office 10 will not let this irresponsible post by Lucagbo pass,” the agency said.
DSWD-10 has reminded the public that spreading of fake news through the “Unlawful Use of Means of Public and Unlawful Utterances” under article 154 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to section 6 of the Republic Act 10175 or the Anti-Cybercrime Law, is a crime.
“At the time that the country and the whole world is facing a grave crisis due to Covid-19, the social media must not be used to confuse, deceive, and lie to the people and malign the DSWD and other government agencies,” DSWD-10 said.
It said the people must cooperate by sharing only correct and truthful information to others.
DSWD-10 will be taking a legal action against Lucagbo.
“We are considering on filing a complaint to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group to the person who spread that report,” said Inodeo. (Jigger J. Jerusalem)
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