Facebook shuts down 3 fake accounts of PNP chief poseurs

MANILA Philippines — The Philippine National Police has identified four people who might be behind the bogus Facebook accounts of its chief Camilo Pancratius Cascolan.

The PNP cybercrime group director, Brig. Gen. Marvin Manuel Pepino, said on Sunday that Facebook has disabled three fake accounts posing as Cascolan and soliciting money to fund the PNP chief’s social welfare and humanitarian projects.

Pepino said the fake Facebook accounts: “Camilo Pancratius Pikoy Cascolan;” “Camilo P Cascolan;” and “Camilo Cascolan,” have been “active on social networks enticing Facebook users to donate funds to purchase computer tablets for students in urban poor communities for online classes.”

He said that four suspects had been subpoenaed to appear before the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. Those behind the fake accounts face charges of swindling, or estafa, and identity theft under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

—Jeannette I. Andrade