Audio clip about total lockdown 'fake news,' says DILG spokesman

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya on Monday branded as "fake news" the circulating audio clip stating that the national government will impose a total lockdown as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"Narinig ko po ang voice clip na 'yun at unang dinig ko pa lamang ay alam ko na na fake news kasi wala pong ganoong direktiba ang ating pamahalaan. Wala pa pong desisyon ang ating Pangulo sa anumang klaseng sinasabing total lockdown na 'yan," Malaya said during the day's Laging Handa press briefing.

"Ngunit, mayroon po tayong mas maigting na implementasyon ng enhanced community quarantine dahil mas marami pa po tayong kababayan na pasaway," he added.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also dismissed the audio clip as fake news.

"Siguro alam na ng taumbayan na laganap ang fake news ngayon kaya regular ang press briefing natin, regular ang press briefing ng IATF para po maiwasan ang panlilinlang ng mga fake news na ito,” Roque said in a televised briefing. "Isa pong fake news yan."

Malaya said authorities are already conducting an investigation to determine who were those behind the audio clip.

For its part, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said its Anti-Cybercrime Group would also conduct an investigation with the goal of arresting the people behind the audio clip.

In a separate statement, PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac encouraged citizens to be alert and to refrain from spreading unverified information.

"We deemed it to be another fake news spreading through text messages and chat groups. We urge netizens and social media users to be alert and vigilant and avoid sharing or posting unverified information," he said.

Latest data from the PNP showed that over 40 individuals were already arrested for spreading false information in this time of health crisis. — with Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News