Fake News Purveyors to Face Jail Time

With the ongoing threat of the 2019 novel Corona Virus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019 nCoV-ARD), netizens often share and spread fake news items which pushed the authorities to take action.

On February 10, 4th district Provincial Board Member Kerrie Keane Shimura sponsored an ordinance adopting the provisions of Executive Order No. 5-A issued by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and prohibiting the spread of false news and information in the social media in relation to 2019-new Corona Virus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019-nCoV ARD) providing penalties for violation thereof and appropriating funds for this purpose.

Shimura is also the chairwoman on the committee on health.

The goal of the said ordinance is to avoid the spread of fake news about the mentioned disease which can trigger public scare.

Individuals who share fake information on Facebook, Twitter and even text messages are subjected to pay a P5,000 fine and will also face jail time for less than a year.

Meanwhile, as of February 10, 2020 at 12 noon, 261 patients are now under investigation in the country. (MLC)