MANILA. Philippines -- Mobile text messages about a gang roaming around and seizing children in Southern Tagalog supposedly to sell their internal organs are a hoax, Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon Wednesday.

“These texts that are spreading are just not true,” Razon said. “Don’t believe in stories like these.”

But Razon said he still instructed regional and provincial police chiefs to look into allegations of bodies of children found dumped in the Calabarzon region with their internal organs missing.

He said these rumors that have been swirling were causing “undue alarm” to the public. Text messages alleged the abducted children were being killed and their internal organs sold for patients needing organ replacement.

Razon said telecommunication firms were coordinating with police investigators to track down the source of the hoax messages.

Reports reaching his office alleged the abductors were on board a van with plate number ZMM-507, Razon said. But after verification from the Land Transportation Office, the plate number did not match to any registered vehicle, he said.