TACLOBAN CITY – Both the police and the Army declared as a hoax a post that circulated this week claiming of an attack by the members of the New People’s Army(NPA) across the region.
The post, which was shared by several social media users, claimed that the rebels are targeting public places like shopping malls, churches, and other places frequented by people.
“The news circulating online of a possible attack by NPA rebels is a black propaganda orchestrated by the enemies of the state to attract support from sympathizers and instill fear to the populace,” the 8th Infantry Division said in a press statement.
Still, the Army urged the public to report to authorities of any suspicious elements or activities in their respective areas.
It also asked the public to stop sharing the same post to avoid further panic and fear.
The police in the region, in a separate press statement, also urged the public not to share the same hoax information.
“With this, the whole force of PRO-8 assures the public that all police personnel are doing their best efforts in maintaining the peace and order in the whole of Eastern Visayas,” it said.
The city police, meantime, also asked the public to report to the authorities any similar post of its veracity and not to share it right away on their social media accounts.
(JEIZEL C. JUSAYAN, LNU Student Intern)
