Two gov’t workers sacked for spreading disinformation

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – The municipality of E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental has warned the public against spreading false, malicious, and misleading posts on social media pertaining to the forthcoming 35th Ugyonan Festival, as they mull to file cyber libel charges against those responsible.

Two job order casual government employees in the town have been immediately terminated after they were identified for allegedly posting erroneous information about the unofficial celebrity performers for this year’s festival.

The fake Facebook posts started circulating on social media on April 2, the same day when the Public Information Office (PIO) posted two posters officially announcing the celebrities who will be performing on the highlights of the festival.

A few hours later, several netizens started posting fake posters announcing other celebrities purportedly guesting at the Ugyonan Festival like Arthur Nery, Taylor Swift, Hev Abi and Flow G, and Vivamax artists.

These fake posters bear the official seal of the municipal government and the official logo of the 35th Ugyonan Festival.

According to the PIO, it created confusion among the public and damaged the integrity of the town’s official Facebook page, as to the veracity of the information they posted on their official page.

Based on the official posters released by the PIO, the celebrities who will be coming to the festival are Super Tekla, Donita Nose, and rapper Nik Makino.

As an initial step, Mayor Marvin Malacon has sought the assistance of proper government authorities in tracing the identities of these fake information peddlers, including those who shared or reposted the said fake posts and maliciously commented on them.

The municipal government is currently gathering screenshots of Facebook posts containing similar fake and malicious posts and will be filing appropriate charges against them.

The local government urges the public to remain vigilant against fraudulent posts. 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 – Saravia – E. B. Magalona, Tumandok EB Magalona, and Ugyon Saraviahanon.