Cases filed vs. 5 people over 'fake news' that resulted in vaccination chaos —Palace

Malacañang on Monday said police have filed cases against five individuals who supposedly peddled fake news on the government's COVID-19 vaccination program.

Government officials have blamed the fake information that unvaccinated people will not be allowed to leave their homes under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for the huge crowds that trooped to some vaccination centers in Manila and Las Piñas City in Metro Manila, and Antipolo City in Rizal.

The fake news also said that unvaccinated individuals will not be eligible to receive the cash aid the government will give to households affected by the ECQ.

"The police has said that cases have been filed against five people for unlawful utterances," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a press briefing, citing information from the Philippine National Police-Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (PNP-DIDM).

"To the peddlers of fake news, mahahanap po kayo, sasampahan po kayo ng kaso, ikukulong po kayo [you will be found, you will face charges, and you will be sent to jail)," he added.

Metro Manila is placed under ECQ -- the strictest quarantine level -- from August 6 to 20 to prevent the spread of the more transmissible Delta coronavirus variant.

No less than President Rodrigo Duterte, on July 28, had said that the police and barangay officials should keep unvaccinated people out of the streets to avoid them spreading the virus.

Roque, however, had earlier said Duterte should not be blamed over the large crowds that flocked vaccination centers in Metro Manila. —KBK, GMA News