CAGAYAN de Oro City Hall has fired at fake news mongers spreading rumors about Mayor Rolando Uy’s alleged suspension.
The bogus claims circulated on a Facebook page called ‘Peace and Order’ on Sunday, August 11, stating that Uy had been suspended and that Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez was set to take over.
“It’s a lie,” said city spokesperson John Actub, who confirmed that Mayor Uy was on duty as usual on Monday, August 12, attending a flag-raising ceremony in Barangay Bulua.
Actub was adamant that no suspension order had been issued and urged the public to ignore the misinformation, which he attributed to a troll account.
“This isn’t just about Mayor Uy,” Actub said, noting that various local political figures have been targeted by fake accounts spreading false claims for weeks.
He suggested that the fake news could be politically motivated, possibly an attempt to stir trouble ahead of upcoming elections.
When asked about the mayor’s reaction to the rumors, Actub said Uy merely smiled and chose to focus on city development rather than the baseless claims.
Actub admitted that tracing the origins of these troll accounts is challenging, especially with the advanced technology at play.
“It’s tough to track them down, even with our IT experts on it,” he said.
In a bid to quell the rumors, Actub called for a “ceasefire” on fake news and encouraged residents to enjoy the Higalaay Festival 2024, a month-long celebration organized by the city government.
“Let’s call a ceasefire and enjoy the festival,” Actub urged.
Councilor Rustico Ian Achas, the minority floor leader, backed up Actub’s statements, confirming that no suspension order had been served to Mayor Uy.
“Sometimes these things come out as political propaganda,” Achas noted, suggesting that legal action might be needed to address the situation.
