Bgy. chairman in Marikina faces raps over Covid-19 case hoax

The local officials have been warned before hand to follow the set protocols set by the national government or else they will face the consequences of the actions.

A barangay chairman in Marikina City will face charges for disseminating false information on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) which caused panic among his constituents.

Barangay Tumana Chairman Ziffred Ancheta will be facing charges for Unlawful Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances pursuant to Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Republic 10951 or the Anti-Cybercrime Law, according to Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro.

Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro and Barangay Tumana Chairman Ziffred Ancheta
(photo credit to owner)

According to reports Ancheta had a Facebook live broadcast at around 1 p.m. Thursday, wherein he announced that a resident in the village has contracted Covid-19.

The City Health Office(CHO) and the Marikina Rescue 161, however, immediately refuted such information.

Dr. Alberto Herrera, City Health Officer, said the subject PUI (Person Under Investigation), who was working as a security guard in Greenhills, is not a Covid-19 positive or confirmed case, contrary to what Ancheta said in his Facebook live.

Herrera explains that only the Department of Health (DOH) can disclose any information on a Covid-19 case through the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

In a letter to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Marikina OIC-Director, Alona Raymundo, Rescue 161 Chief Dave David said what Ancheta did was “in direct violation” of the protocol set forth by the DOH in informing the public about Covid-19 cases, thereby causing fear, panic, and trauma to residents of Barangay Tumana.”

Mayor Teodoro reminded and appealed to the public to be responsible users of social media most especially in the sharing of information.

"I am urging everyone to be responsible when posting on social media, especially about Covid-19. This is not the time for panic. During these trying times, we must come together as one family to help each other,” he said.

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Report from PNA

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