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NTF reminds public anew to verify online posts
MANILA – The National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 on Friday cautioned the public against believing unverified news related to the country’s pandemic response and the national vaccination program.
NTF Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed that overcrowding incidents on Thursday, a day before the imposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila, was due to false information.
“Verified po natin na may naglabas ng fake news. Ito ngang walang bakuna walang ayuda kaya dumagsa ang mga kababayan natin galing sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa labas ng Metro Manila papunta sa Las Piñas, Antipolo, Maynila at sa iba’t-iba pang mga siyudad. Sana po huwag tayong maniniwala sa mga ganitong fake news (We verified that some people have spread fake news that those who are not vaccinated will not get relief assistance that’s why people from different areas outside Metro Manila swarmed the vaccination sites in Las Piñas, Antipolo, and Manila. I hope they won’t believe this kind of fake news),” Dizon said at the Laging Handa public briefing.
Dizon also appealed to those whose main objective is to disrupt the government’s vaccination program to stop as they are also harming the public.
“Hirap na hirap po ang ating mga kababayan ngayon. Hirap na hirap po ang bansa dito sa threat ng Delta variant. Sana naman huwag nilang gagawin iyon (Our countrymen are suffering. Our country is having a difficulty with the threat of the Delta variant. I hope they stop doing this),” he said.
The NTF, he added, has been verifying more reports that some people purposely sabotaged vaccination centers in malls.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said they are now taking the necessary steps with the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in probing those who should be made accountable for spreading fake news.
“We are warning ‘no kung sinuman po itong mga ‘to, hinahanap po kayo ngayon ng NBI at ng Philippine National Police and we will do our utmost best para po mahuli kayo (We are warning whoever did this. The NBI and the police are now looking for you and we will do our utmost best to catch you),” he said.
