War on two fronts: COVID-19 and disinformation

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

False information and malicious reports have been circulating on social media even before health authorities could confirm the first positive case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Iloilo province and the second in Western Visayas over the weekend.

Despite the efforts of the health department and authorities to issue regular and updated advisories on COVID-19, unverified reports and speculation about the pandemic became widespread after health authorities confirmed two cases in Bacolod City and Iloilo province.

In Pavia, authorities arrested a Facebook user for sharing information about persons under monitoring (PUMs) in a certain subdivision.

The netizen in his post claimed that around 30 PUMs who had travel history abroad and Manila refused to undergo home quarantine.

He went on claiming that one-fourth of the alleged PUMs have COVID-19 and cautioned that it will spread across Pavia and the rest of the province of Iloilo

“The next ‘Italy’ in Pavia, province of Iloilo,” he said in his post which was shared by hundreds of netizens.

Municipal Police Station of Pavia said the netizen is currently detained and will be facing charges for violation of Sec. 9 of Republic Act 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act) and Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code or unlawful use of means of publications.

Another malicious information on the alleged special military helicopters spraying pesticides against COVID-19 also spread on social media and other messaging applications in Iloilo over the weekend.

This time, the information urged the public to stay indoors after midnight and to remove their clothes hung outside.

“When you hear the sounds of airplanes at night, it is for you to know that is related to this matter Covid-19,” read part of the message.

Captain Cenon Pancito lll, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said there is no truth to the said information.

Pancito said their headquarters in Capiz, including the Central Command of the AFP denied the information, adding that there were no movements of air assets for the purpose of spraying pesticides.

“Wala pong katotohanan. This is fake dissemination. Our Central Command in Cebu has all the control of military aircrafts so yung central command told us that there were no movements in our assets doing the same purpose. The health department has also clarified that pesticide has nothing to do with fighting against Covid-19,” he told Daily Guardian.

This deliberate sharing of unverified information has led only to fear and chaos, Mayor Jerry Treñas stressed.

“Kagina sang aga, may nagtext na sa akon before pa iconfirm sang mga awtoridad. Ang iban ya nagapaimportante nga kuno abi kabalo gid sila, ano ang resulta sini kondi ang mga tawo mapanic gid,” Treñas said.

In a press conference on Saturday, the mayor could not help but belt out his dismay on individuals and groups sharing unverified information and preempting the announcement of health authorities.

 

“Kon may ara gid man kamo nabal-an nga may napositive diri, palihog tagu-a niyo lang sa inyo kag hulata niyo ang respective nga mga awtoridad ang mapagwa. Wala man ko gahambal nga kon makita ta kamo, tampungulon ko kamo pero mga yudi**** kamo. Kay ginhawa lang subong sang inyo mga opisyales nga mag-atipan diri sa siyudad kag probinya, ang paindis-indis nga na wala gid kamo kuha-on,” he said.

 

Pancito shared the mayor’s sentiments.

 

“We cannot deny that everyone is really on a panic state whether emotionally but we can address this by getting the right information. We are becoming part of the trouble instead of creating solutions. We should not immediately panic or send things without asking if this information is true or not,” he stressed.

 

Meanwhile, Treñas appealed to the media to avoid competition in delivering news and instead wait for the authorities to verify information before making announcements.

 

“I am appealing to the media, if you receive reports about positive cases wait for the authorities to announce in order for us to avoid public panic. This is not the right time for all of us to compete with each other in delivering news first. We have to cooperate with the authorities,” he furthered.