Cebu City police call out Facebook page for misinformation

Local

A CONTROVERSIAL Facebook page created quite a stir when it posted a supposed robbery incident that happened in Cebu City on Tuesday, October 1.

It turned out that what the Cebu Updates posted was a case of misinformation after the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) clarified that the supposed robbery was a simulation drill.

As of 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the post that read “Tulis na pod sa Cebuana Lhuillier sa T. Padilla” garnered a thousand reactions and over 300 Facebook shares.

As the post gained traction, the CCPO quickly explained that the situation was a planned exercise conducted in coordination with the establishment and partner agencies.

During the pre-announced drill, police showed their readiness when a pawnshop was robbed in Barangay T. Padilla, Cebu City.

"We would like to clarify that the recent scenario... was actually a robbery simulation exercise," the CCPO commented on the post, directly addressing Cebu Updates.

The police emphasized that they had already informed the public about the drill through their official Facebook page to ensure transparency and public awareness.

The CCPO urged Cebu Updates to verify information before posting in order to avoid spreading misinformation and causing public panic.

They called for responsible reporting, stating, “We kindly request that you exercise prudence when sharing information about this incident.”

The police highlighted the importance of public cooperation in verifying news and following official sources to prevent the spread of fake news, especially during emergency drills.

The page has not yet issued a correction regarding its initial post.

Cebu Updates was the former official page of the city operated by the Public Information Office (PIO). Currently, the page's ownership is being contested.

Last February, the Cebu City Government filed a complaint with the Office of the City Prosecutor against two individuals accused of running the disputed Facebook page.

Estela Grace Rosit, the former PIO head, filed charges on behalf of the City for illegal access and identity theft under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175) against Erwin dela Cerna and Christian Tura.

The city claims that Cebu Updates is its property, as it was once the official PIO page, and is determined to regain control of it.(MyTVCebu)