Comelec to tap NBI, PNP against fake news

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will seek help from the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police to go after perpetrators behind fake news about the electoral process and the poll body, its official said Monday.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said people who are behind the fake news will be prosecuted.

“Kung kinakailangan po naming i-tap 'yung cybercrime unit ng NBI, ng PNP (We will tap the cybercrime unit of NBI and PNP if needed). We will go after them. We will prosecute them,” he said.

Garcia slammed a fake news item saying there are already results of the May elections involving 100% of the registered voters. He pointed out that fake news undermines the integrity of the electoral process.

Aside from this, a fake news item also claimed that ballots have already been shaded prior to the elections.

“Fake news na fake news. Kaya nga lang po syempre, hindi naman po lahat ay makakaunawa kapag nakakita ng ganyan sasabihin pa may nanalo na, luto na ang eleksyon na 'to,” he said.

(Obviously it's fake news. But not all people can understand this, some would think that there is already a winner, the election is rigged.)

In January, the Comelec warned the public against social media users impersonating poll commissioners or officials.

Comelec encouraged the public to report any Facebook friend request claiming to be from a Comelec commissioner or other poll officials for community standards violations.—AOL, GMA News