Gov, Apu Ceto decry bogus FB accounts

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – In the age of the internet and the social media, almost everybody has an account, whether official or personal, that can facilitate immediate information dissemination or simply to satisfy one’s narcissism.

Even US President Donald Trump (using the handle POTUS on Twitter) has not ceased from using the social media in blurting out his thoughts even in sensitive issues like the North Korean crisis, etc.

But coming on the heels of the cutting-edge technology is fake news as Pampanga leaders denied making or having any account especially on Facebook (FB).

Foremost is Gov. Lilia “Nanay Baby” G. Pineda who stressed that she has no FB account: “Gov. Lilia G. Pineda.”

The fake FB account using the governor’s name has since been taken down as of press time but not before it generated more than 500 friends including national and local government officials and media personalities.

The governor’s FB account had her official photo with the seal of the province and the capitol building in the background and an announcement of her supposed state of the province address this August.

But as it turned out, it was a bogus account.

Both Pampanga provincial information office chief Joel Mapiles and 3rd District Board Member Rosve Henson had taken to FB to say the governor’s account is fake and warned the public against it.

Archbishop Emiritus Paciano “Apu Ceto” B. Aniceto long denied having an FB account with the name: “Archbishop Paciano Aniceto.”

But the said FB account is still active as of press time and is asking for donations: “To those who want to share their blessings please direct your donations to Sister Lou Pamintuan-Secretary to the Archbishop Emiritus by sending to any money courier such as Western Union, Palawan Express or ML Kwarta Padala. God bless you pu.”

The solicitation is accompanied by an uploaded photo of the official stationary of the Office of the Archbishop Emeritus with Aniceto’s signature.

Aniceto has vehemently denied soliciting such donations as he warned the public not to fall victim to such scam. He stressed that he has no FB account, official or otherwise.

Last year, FB came out with features to combat fake news by tagging them as “disputed” that can then be subjected to fact checking by credible organizations.