Two job order (JO) workers of E.B. Magalona municipal government in Negros Occidental were dismissed from their respective jobs on Thursday (April 4).
They were identified as spreaders of misleading Facebook posts, which contained erroneous information on unofficial celebrity performers for the forthcoming 35th Ugyonan Festival.
The fake Facebook posts started circulating on social media on April 2 after the municipal government Public Information Office (PIO) uploaded two posters, announcing that celebrities Super Tekla, Donita Nose, and rapper Nik Makino will perform on the highlights of the 35th Ugyonan Festival.
The following hours, several netizens have started posting fake posters announcing other celebrities purportedly guesting at Ugyonan Festival, including Arthur Nery, Taylor Swift, Hev Abi & Flow G, and Vivamax artists, which bear the official seal of the municipality and the official logo of the 35th Ugyonan Festival.
“These fake posts created confusion among the public and damaged the integrity of our official Facebook page as to the veracity of the information we post,” a statement from the E. B. Magalona PIO said.
It added that the municipal government will file cyber libel charges against any and all persons found to be sources of these fake posts, as well as those who shared or reposted the said fake posts and maliciously commented on them.
It further said that Mayor Marvin Malacon has sought the assistance of proper government authorities in tracing the identity of these fake news peddlers and in filing appropriate charges against them.
In the Philippines, cyber libel is governed primarily by Republic Act No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The law penalizes libel committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future, expanding the scope of traditional libel as defined under Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code.
The PIO called on the public to remain vigilant against fraudulent posts and keep in mind that the official schedule of events and the list of artists and/or performers for the 35th Ugyonan Festival shall only be posted on the official social media platforms of the Municipality of E.B. Magalona.
Its three Facebook pages are Saravia – E. B. Magalona – official Facebook page, Tumandok EB Magalona and Ugyon Saraviahanon. ||
