On kidnap hoax: File raps vs ‘rumor mongers’ - Luigi

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luigi Quisumbing has ordered the city legal department to look into the possible filing of criminal charges against the people behind the misinformation on the social media about an alleged kidnapping incident in Barangay Tabok last Saturday.

Quisumbing said that the information posted by a certain Sanche Rosell on Facebook that two young women were allegedly abducted by a group of armed men was not true.

"This is a hoax. Not true. Please be responsible about what you post online," Quisumbing said.

The post has allegedly created unnecessary panic among the residents of Mandaue City.

"Guys please pagasultihe inyong mga anak o kaliwat nga mga babaye labi na teenagers nga magamping intawon. Kay karon lang 6pm nahitabo sa skina Tabok naa gkidnap nga duha ka babaye atbang sa Toyota niya naay niabot nga Van. Ang mga kidnappers kay armado og armalite niya naa nay daghan babaye sa sulod daan sa Van. ALARMING KAAUNG NING HITABOA," read Rosell's post.

Quisumbing said he immediately ordered the police to verify the information and found this not to be true.

"Tan-awn nato no, pero kung KSP (kulang sa pansin) ra gyud ni no, or if this is just a case of trying to raise alarm then definitely we will consider filing a case kay para namo this has caused undue stress. This has caused anxiety among the people of Mandaue and I will not tolerate that," Quisumbing said.

"Walay kidnapping nga nahitabo and there is no evidence that this incident happened. It appears to be somebody making things up on social media," Quisumbing added.

Mandaue City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Roberto Alanas said the information was not true. He reminded the public that posting false information on social media that will cause public panic is a criminal offense.

Under the law, those circulating hoax warning, through email and text messages can be held criminally liable as it constitutes willful dissemination of false information which is punishable by law.

He said the person responsible for the false information could be charged with unlawful rumor mongering and even those who apologize for circulating the hoax can still be held liable for spreading the rumor. (FREEMAN)