PALAYAN CITY – A village watchman from nearby Cabanatuan City was arrested for allegedly peddling through social media fake news on the coronavirus disease.
Police said Vender Cortez, 42, of Barangay Cabu, Cabanatuan City was arrested after he allegedly posted in his Facebook account that there was already a Covid-19 positive case in this city at about 2:30 p.m., March 25.
“The said fake news caused fear ang anxiety to all residents of Palayan City,” PSSgt. Jay Fidel Libres, investigator of Palayan City police, said in his report.
This prompted the Palayan police to conduct a “hot pursuit operation” that led to his arrest, police said, adding that “as of this date, the City of Palayan is free from the said virus.”
In Cortez’s supposed post, he said there is already a positive corona virus case in Palayan City and called villagemates to be careful in mingling with strangers.
Cabu is Cabanatuan City’s last village bordering Palayan.
Cortez in a later post apologized to the people of Palayan for the wrong information.
He is now facing charges for violation of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Republic Act 10175 of Cycbercrime Law.
