Cascolan: I have no Facebook account

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan said Monday that he has no Facebook account, following the social media giant’s shutdown of three accounts that assumed his identity.

“Sa lahat po ng gumagamit ng aking pangalan, unang una wala po akong FB account. Meron akong FB page pero wala po akong FB account,” he said in a press briefing.

(I do not have a Facebook account. I have an FB page but I do not have an FB account.)

“Sa lahat po ng gumagawa ng ganitong illegal activity, lalo na ‘yung nag-e-extort, gamit ang aking pangalan, gamit ang fake na FB account under my name, alalahanin nyo po na hindi po kayo basta basta makakatago dahil magaling po ang ating mga tao sa Anti-Cybercrime Group,” he added.

(To all those doing this illegal activity, especially those who extort using my name through fake FB accounts, remember that you cannot hide because our personnel at the Anti-Cybercrime Group are skilled.)

He advised those involved in such activities to stop using his name and to return the money they extorted from their victims.

On Sunday, PNP-ACG director Brig. Gen. Marvin Manuel Pepino said cybercrime investigators have traced poser accounts that used the name of Cascolan for online swindling and estafa.

The accounts “have been active in social networks enticing Facebook users to donate funds purportedly to purchase computer tablets for students in urban poor communities for online classes,” according to Pepino.

He also said the ACG started an investigation and case build-up on the activities of persons behind the bogus accounts and had requested Facebook to take down the accounts to prevent them from committing further illegal activities.

JE