Senators to NBI: Stop fake donation drives for Taal eruption victims

MANILA, Philippines — At least two senators on Thursday called on the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) Anti-Cybercrime Division to track down those behind bogus donation drives for victims of the Taal Volcano eruption as well as those who spread false information about the volcano’s eruption.

In a statement, Senator Manny Pacquiao said he would ask NBI’s Anti-Cybercrime Division and the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) to track down those behind the bogus social media accounts soliciting donations supposedly for Taal eruption victims using his name.

“It came to my attention that there are several social media accounts bearing my name soliciting donations supposedly for the Taal Volcano eruption victims. I have not authorized any such solicitation,” he said.

Pacquaio, likewise, urged the NBI to immediately arrest and file appropriate charges against those behind the said accounts.

The senator said his office and family are in close coordination with the local government of Batangas and Cavite to directly extend assistance to the victims.

“Sa mga gumagamit ng aking pangalan para makapanlinlang sa kapwa, mahiya naman po kayo. Labis-labis na ang paghihirap ng ating mga kababayan ay nagagawa niyo pang manloko ng inyong kapwa,” Pacquiao said.

“I am warning you, tigilan niyo na yang panloloko niyo dahil tinitiyak ko na hindi ako titigil hangga’t di kayo matunton at masampahan ng kaukulang kaso,” he added.

Pacquiao also said he would file the appropriate complaint before the social media platforms, especially Facebook, and request that such accounts be taken down.

He then advised the public to be wary of fake “Manny Pacquiao” social media accounts.

Pacquiao stressed that if and when he would ask for donations, it will only be through his official social media accounts.

He said the following are his only legitimate social media accounts:

• Personal Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @MannyPacquiao

• Foundation account on Facebook: @MannyPacquiaoFoundation; Instagram:@PacquiaoFoundation and Twitter: @MPac_Foundation

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also expressed alarm over false information being circulated online as well as fake donation drives during calamities.

“Sa mga nakita nating ganitong malalaking trahedya, meron talagang loko-lokong inaabuso yung sitwasyon at sinasamantala yung sitwasyon. Yung iba nagpapakalat ng fake news na Alert Level 5 na, yung iba ay nagpapakalat ng fake donation drive,” he said in a media forum.

He then called on the NBI to be “very alert” amid these disinformation circulating online.

“At this time para sakin given na na talagang may mangsasamantala talaga sa sitwasyon, ang importante ngayon yung ating mga ahensya ay nagmo-monitor at mahuli itong mga ganitong sumasamantala sa sitwasyon,” he said.

“Yung cyber capability nila (NBI) importante, ito sa mga fake news sa mga fake donation drive, karamihan dito sa ganitong disinformation and misinformation na ginagamit ang internet at ang may capability niyan ay ang NBI,” he added.

Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 4 which means that “hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days,” according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Edited by MUF