MANILA, Philippines — The Mandaluyong was the latest city to be targeted by fake news peddlers on Monday.
Mandaluyong’s public information office took to Twitter to warn the public against online posts claiming that walk-ins are allowed in the city’s COVID-19 immunization sites.
“Fake news ang kumakalat na text at social media post patungkol sa pagtatanggap ng walk-in sa ating vaccination sites at maling impormasyon sa pagbabakuna,” said the Mandaluyong’s public information office in a tweet.
(The information regarding the acceptance of walk-ins at our vaccination sites through text and social media is fake, as well as the misinformation on our vaccination drive.)
“Ang pamahalaan ng lungsod ay mahigpit na nagpapatupad ng line listing ng lahat ng babakunahan sa lahat ng vaccination sites nito,” it added.
(The city government strictly enforces a line listing of all vaccinators in all its vaccination sites.)
In response to fake information that has sabotaged the vaccination program for COVID-19, Malacañang has announced that it will take legal action against individuals who spread inaccurate information.
READ: Gov’t probes suspected attempt to sabotage COVID-19 vaccine campaign*/a>
Just one day before an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila came into force on August 5, 19,000 people flocked to Manila’s vaccination centers.
READ: At least 19,000 individuals flock Manila’s COVID-19 vaccination sites
Government officials later claimed that it was caused by a rumor online that those not vaccinated will not be allowed to receive aid from the national government.
READ: MMDA: ‘No vaccine, no ayuda’ rumor caused ‘unruliness’ at jab sites in Manila, Las Pinas>
The National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) began investigating suspected “sabotage” of COVID-19 immunization campaigns.
READ: Gov’t probes suspected ‘sabotage’ of immunization drive
The mayor of Quezon City, Joy Belmonte, believes the false articles are connected to the upcoming National Elections 2022.
Belmonte made this statement after Quezon City also debunked posts claiming that walk-in arrangements were allowed at some vaccination centers, which caused a huge influx of people.
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