CICC monitoring social media for disinformation amid EDSA rally

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Tuesday said it is intensifying its monitoring of various social media platforms as thousands of people gathered at EDSA for a protest rally.

In a statement, the CICC said, citing analysis by its Threat Monitoring Center’s (TMC), that the majority of monitored online engagements consisted of media coverage of the protest and traffic advisories.

“This was followed by negative public sentiment over the severe traffic congestion caused by the unexpected gathering on the major thoroughfare and the subsequent road closures it triggered,” the agency said.

“In light of these preliminary findings, the CICC said it continues to maintain heightened round-the-clock online surveillance to promptly detect and address any misleading or false information related to the protest in connection to the possible filing of a plunder case against Senator Rondante Marcoleta,” it added.

The CICC urged the public to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspected disinformation related to the protest rally through Hotline 1326.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the crowd size at the EDSA People Power Monument has grown to over 10,000, some nine hours since protesters started converging in the area.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said maximum tolerance is being observed by law enforcers, even as it appealed to protesters to observe the rule of law.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), meanwhile, said several road closures and advised motorists to expect traffic congestion in the vicinity of the rally.

The following roads have been closed to vehicular traffic:

• EDSA Ortigas Service Road (northbound)
• EDSA Ortigas Flyover (northbound)
• EDSA Ortigas Flyover (southbound)
• White Plains Avenue (eastbound and westbound)

Based on the MMDA's latest traffic monitoring, moderate to slow-moving traffic was reported along the following areas:

• EDSA southbound: Scout Borromeo to the Ortigas split
• EDSA northbound: Guadalupe to White Plains

The MMDA said one lane has been occupied by vehicles parked by rally participants, contributing to traffic buildup. Motorists are advised to expect delays and take alternate routes whenever possible. MMDA personnel have been deployed to manage traffic flow in the affected areas. —RF, GMA News