National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has finished investigating Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Mocha Uson and other netizens for complaints filed against them in regards to allegedly spreading fake news about the government’s actions against COVID-19.
Earlier in April, Uson was under the scrutiny of netizens for her Facebook post about the government’s reported purchase of personal protective equipment. However, the photo that she used was found to be from a private foundation and not the government.
Although she issued an apology and claimed that her use of the wrong photo was an “honest mistake,” the OWWA official was summoned by NBI for an investigation.
When asked for updates about this incident, NBI director for Anti-Cybercrime Victor Lorenzo said that all reports on the complaints filed against Uson and other netizens are already “for evaluation.” With this, the next step lies in the NBI Legal Division, which will now decide whether the Anti-Cybercrime unit’s report of complaints warrants the filing of a case to the Department of Justice.
In accordance with the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act of 2020, “creating, perpetuating or spreading false information regarding the COVID-19 crisis on social media and other platforms” is an act punishable with imprisonment of at least two months or a fine ranging from P10,000 to P1 million, or both.
Header photo by Joan Bondoc for Inquirer.net
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