THE Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will conduct an investigation into the alleged sabotage of COVID-19 vaccination in some parts of Metro Manila through the dissemination of fake news.
This was revealed by PNP Chief, Police General Guillermo Eleazar, where he cited wrong and malicious information pertaining to the vaccination program that circulated especially on social media and through text messages.
The malicious information pertained to unvaccinated persons, who are supposedly would not be allowed to go outside and would not receive cash aid while the National Capital Region is under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
This caused massive crowds to rush to get COVID-19 jabs at vaccination centers in many parts of the metropolis.
“We are already looking into this and part of it is to trace the identity of the source of disinformation on vaccination being circulated on social media and text messages,” said Gen. Eleazar.
The Chief PNP reiterated that there is no order to prevent unvaccinated people from going out of their home.
He added that no less than the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Eduardo Año made the assurance that qualified beneficiaries of the cash assistance from the national government in the Metro Manila will be given the “ayuda,” regardless if they are vaccinated or not.
“Nais ko din magbigay ng paalala sa publiko na huwag basta-basta maniniwala sa mga kumakalat na impormasyon. Libre magtanong sa ating mga LGUs at mga ahensya. Maaari din tayong sumilip sa mga official websites ng mga government agencies at basahin ang mga announcements,” said PGen. Eleazar.
“Puwede din naman makibalita tayo sa mainstream media: sa TV, radyo o dyaryo. Maraming nananamantala sa pandemya at nagpapakalat ng maling impormasyon para makapanggulo lang kaya dapat ay maging mapanuri tayo,” he added.