Cop denies presence of terrorists in Pampanga

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The Central Luzon police has described as fake news a report being circulated on social media about the alleged presence of foreign terrorists in the province.

The report said that the terrorists are preparing for the arrival of the heads of states for the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) event at the Clark Freeport in November.

Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino urged residents to be intelligent in using the social media and not to believe any information coming from unverified sources.

“Such information do not serve any purpose but to sow fear and alarm the public,” Aquino said.

The fake news, reportedly written in Kapampangan, said that terrorists from Pakistan and Bangladesh have settled in Muslim communities in Angeles City and in the towns of Porac and Mabalacat.

It reportedly said that police thwarted a recent attempt to blow up a gasoline tanker and warned people from frequenting local malls.

Aquino said the report was baseless and that authorities are now tracking down the source of the information, which was initially circulated through text messages and now being spread through Facebook and Messenger.