MMDA’s Abalos to public: Don’t spread misinformation amid COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Benhur Abalos on Saturday appealed to the public not to spread misinformation after a fake Facebook post claimed that the government ordered a month-long suspension of all travel to and from Metro Manila starting on Monday.

The Facebook post supposedly from Inquirer.net that circulated online on Saturday came as Metro Manila is to observe a two-week-long curfew starting on Monday. Metro Manila mayors ordered the 10 p.m. to 5 p.m. curfew to help curb the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the metropolis.

Inquirer.net has already clarified that the Facebook post that said the government will suspend land, air, and sea travel to and from Metro Manila starting March 15, 2021, until April 14, 2021, was fake.

Inquirer.net, which is part of the Inquirer Group of Companies, said the post was “a rehash of a social media post posted March 12, 2020, wherein the government announced the suspension of land, air, and sea travel to and from Metro Manila from March 15, 2020, to April 14, 2020.”

This was the time when President Rodrigo Duterte placed Metro Manila under community quarantine to curb the spread of COVID-19 cases then.

In a text message, Abalos told the Inquirer he received many calls about the Facebook post.

“Someone maliciously edited the date to make it appear that suspension of travel would be implemented today,” said Abalos.

“Please let us avoid misinformation as it is causing more public alarm and panic. What is more important is for all of us to be united with this fight against covid,” he added.

/MUF