The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) filed charges on May 6 against a netizen for allegedly spreading false information online that triggered public panic.
The complaint was filed for violation of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code (Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances) in relation to Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The respondent allegedly went live on Facebook on April 30, falsely claiming that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Special Action Force (SAF) were set to raid the residence of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in Doña Luisa Subdivision, Matina.
According to DCPO Acting City Director Col. Hansel Marantan, the unverified and misleading information caused public confusion and unnecessary tension.
Police Station 15 – Ecoland, under PMaj. Butch Kevinb Rapiz, in coordination with the Regional Anti-Cyber Crime Unit 11, led the investigation and filed the complaint with the City Prosecutor’s Office.
A thorough investigation confirmed that no such raid occurred and the claims were false.
Col. Marantan stressed that freedom of expression must be exercised responsibly and warned that spreading fake news—especially those inciting panic—has legal consequences.
“Think before you click,” Marantan said. “Let’s not allow disinformation to damage the peace and order in our city.”
The DCPO urges the public to verify posts from legitimate sources before sharing them online.
