MPD warns against spreading hoax posts, citing 'unnecessary fear and panic'

Think twice before sharing posts, the Manila Police District (MPD) said.

The MPD urges the public to be cautious about sharing posts online to prevent the spread of fear and panic.

MPD Director Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay called on the public to “always verify the authenticity and credibility of any information before posting,” as unverified information shared online could “cause unnecessary fear and panic.”

“If anyone has firsthand knowledge of an incident, we encourage them to report directly to the nearest police station or contact MPD hotline so we can respond immediately,” he added.

This was after a female social media user warned the public to stay vigilant at night especially when in Ermita, Manila. She claimed that her husband was forced to eat an unknown substance and was rushed to the hospital.

In her lengthy Facebook post last Jan. 31, she claimed that her husband was walking along Taft Avenue one evening when he was stopped at knife-point by three men who forced him to eat something, which he suspected was "drugs or poison."

When he got home, he felt chills all over his body and struggled to breathe.

She shared that her husband fainted and was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he suffered seizures.

The poster claimed that her husband has now recovered after taking an unknown medication.

However, after investigation, the MPD concluded “that the Facebook post misrepresented the facts, causing unnecessary fear and panic to the public.” 

The original poster “voluntarily deleted the post and issued a public apology for the false statement.”

In a new Facebook post, the woman said she saw from CCTV footage collected by MPD’s Ermita station or Station 5 that the streets her husband walked on were well-lit and that policemen were patrolling in the area at the time she claimed the incident involving her husband happened. (with reports from Ghio Ong)