Bello warns public on fake news about ‘benefits’ of DOLE workers

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines—Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Friday warned the public of fake news being circulated about the monetary benefits reportedly given to employees of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Bello said there is a “hoax message” being circulated on social media and cellphone text claiming that there is a monetary benefit to DOLE employees who have worked in the agency between 1990 and 2018.

“This is not true,” Bello said in a statement posted on the DOLE’s official Facebook page.

“We urge the public to be alert on the spread of this bogus announcement and report any similar incident to the nearest regional offices, bureaus, attached agencies, and overseas labor office,” he added.

STATEMENTDecember 14, 2018We wish to warn the public about a hoax message circulating in the social media and mobile…

Posted by Department of Labor and Employment – DOLE on Thursday, December 13, 2018

Bello said that the information illegally uses the DOLE logo, the link of the agency’s official website and a photo of department officials to guise authenticity.

The DOLE secretary said the agency has already coordinated with law enforcement agencies to track down the people who perpetrated the dissemination of the hoax message. /jpv