DOJ gets almost 200 reports as probe on dummy Facebook accounts continues

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has received almost 200 reports involving more than 300 Facebook accounts as its investigation on dummy accounts continues.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said the department has received 198 reports, as of Monday.

"The contents of the accounts have already been preserved upon the request of our law enforcers," Perete said in a message to reporters.

He said an inter-agency task force, composed of the National Privacy Commission (NPC), the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the DOJ, is investigating the matter.

Philippine authorities are looking into an apparent proliferation of fake Facebook accounts, which NPC commissioner Raymund Liboro has called "very unusual."

The NPC has invited Facebook Philippines to a meeting on Tuesday, June 16, “to seek more information regarding the numerous reports of impostor Facebook accounts.”

The social media giant is also investigating the issue.

Perete earlier said the DOJ will pursue "all possible angles and leads." "No one is in the clear," he said.

The official said they are looking into computer-related identity theft under the anti-cybercrime law as a possible criminal offense of the perpetrators.—AOL, GMA News