MMDA spokesperson Pialago files cyberlibel complaint vs. 2 social media pages

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson Celine Pialago on Wednesday filed a cyberlibel complaint against two social media accounts before the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group.

Speaking to reporters, Pialago said she wanted to hold liable the administrators of the Facebook page Pinoy Laugh Page and the Twitter account Barurot News for spreading malicious posts bearing her photo. She deemed the post as "fake news."

"Kahapon po alas tres ng hapon, a Facebook friend tagged me on a post of this particular Facebook page. Ang laman po noon, 'MMDA to commuters: Kung wala kayong masakyan, huwag na lang kayo magtrabaho...' Something like that," Pialago said.

"Naalarma lang po ako doon dahil wala pong sinabi ang ahensiya namin na ganoon. Kahit ho ako sa personal messages, Facebook statuses, never ho naging statement namin 'yun," she added.

Pialago said she was able to save some screenshots of the posts.

"Burado na ho 'yung nasabing content pero nakapag-save ho kami ng screenshots... Hinahabol ko pa rin 'yung administrators ng content," Pialago said.

Meanwhile, Police Colonel Ramon Gamboa, chief of the cyber response unit, vowed to investigate the incident. He noted that these social media accounts were all fictitious.

"'Yung mga identity ng tao dito, naka-hide so 'yun 'yung ating iniimbestigahan ngayon, kung sino 'yung administrator," Gamboa said, admitting that it will take time to identify those behind the accounts.

Gamboa also said the police would coordinate the matter with Facebook. —KG, GMA News