PNP: Kidnappings posted on Facebook fake news

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday refuted reports posted on Facebook about men in a white van supposedly kidnapping children in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. 

Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, spokesman for the PNP, urged the public to be cautious when posting alleged kidnappings of minors on social media, which he branded as fake news.

“Nais po natin pabulaanan ang mga kumakalat na fake news na ito. Wala pa pong basehan at hindi ito validated,” Banac told reporters.

Recently, a boy claimed that he was kidnapped somewhere in Metro Manila by unidentified people and dragged him into a white van.

The boy even showed surgical wounds as proof that the kidnappers took some of his internal organs.

However, the minor later said in a video that he was not kidnapped. He ran away from his relatives in Bulacan.

Banac said rumors about kidnappings by people in a white van have been repeatedly debunked in previous investigations.

The cases of nine persons who reportedly went missing in Pasay City are still being validated, police said.

Instead of posting unverified information about kidnappings on Facebook, Banac asked the public to first report these cases to the authorities for proper action.

He warned social media users that they could face charges of violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act for spreading false information, which create confusion and fear among the public.