A fake Facebook page impersonating the Cagayan de Oro City Information Office (CIO) has been circulating false information, prompting concern from local officials.
City Information Officer Ian Fuentes expressed dismay on Monday after discovering that an unidentified group created a troll account mimicking the CIO’s official page.
The fake page falsely claimed that Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy supported the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The CIO immediately denied the statement, labeling it as fake news. Fuentes believes the impersonation was politically motivated.
“I am deeply disappointed that the official Facebook page of the City Information Office is being used to spread fake news for personal and political interests,” Fuentes said in a statement.
He urged the public to verify information before sharing it online.
“Please do not be deceived by false and misleading information. Only trust legitimate sources and refrain from sharing posts that may be fake news to prevent further spread,” he added.
Gold Star Daily (GSD) also condemned the fake page, as it was used to publish fabricated statements about Uy.
Editor-in-Chief Cong B. Corrales clarified that GSD does not use Bisaya captions in its official posts and urged readers to be cautious.
“We at GSD encourage our readers to be vigilant about what is posted on social media,” Corrales said, emphasizing the need to combat disinformation.
