Spreading fake news endangers lives

Fake news, riding on the power of social media, brought thousands of people to vaccination centers early morning of August 5. They were “convinced” to line up for vaccination by the news that only the vaccinated can claim the ‘ayuda’ (cash aid) from the government, as the unvaccinated will not be allowed to go out of their houses after the ECQ starts.

Throwing health protocols to the wind, thousands of people lined up inches apart, sat shoulder-to-shoulder, all with masks on, some with face shields in many parts of Metro Manila. The safety and health protocols that we have been told to follow for 19 months already were clearly not followed.

Government authorities led by Malacanang quickly branded as fake news the “no bakuna, no ayuda” trending posts in social media. The National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police were immediately requested to find the sources of the fake news and to file charges against them.