The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said some individuals allegedly attempted to incite unrest in cyberspace and encouraged people to cause disruption at the Senate of the Philippines.
In an interview, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said authorities identified online posts urging people to go to the Senate and storm the area.
According to Aguda, some of the posts also encouraged individuals to bring clubs or blunt objects.
He added that real individuals were behind the online posts, and some of them were “usual names” often seen during rallies.
Because of this, the agency decided to release a statement reminding the public to avoid actions that could further escalate the situation.
Aguda assured the public that the DICT and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) are closely monitoring developments on social media and digital platforms amid the tensions surrounding the Senate.
In line with their mandate, the DICT and CICC are conducting monitoring operations on posts and online content that allegedly encourage further disorder and violence.
The agencies also called on netizens to be responsible in sharing information online regarding the situation.
They stressed that this is not the time to spread fake news or unverified information that could create confusion and fear among the public.
(PHOTO COURTESY: DICT | screegrab)
