MANILA — Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Tonisito Umali has denied the credibility of the quotes posted on fake Facebook accounts that shame the name of the official.
In a statement issued Monday, Umali refuted the posts apparently quoting him on three fake Facebook accounts — Palarong Pambansa, DepEdi Wow, and Thinking Millennials — circulating in social media.
“Mahal ko po ang ating bansa, ang aking asawa at mga anak. Kahit kailanman, hindi po tayo lumihis o bumali sa aking sinumpaang tungkulin na maging matapat at malinis sa aking paninilbihan sa atin bayan at pagiging ring matapat sa aking sagradong relasyon sa aking asawa at mga anak (I love our country, my wife and children. I have never deviated or broken my oath to be faithful and honest in my service for the country and in my sacred relationship with my wife and children),” he said.
The annual “Palarong Pambansa” does not have an official Facebook page created and monitored by DepEd, Umali added.
One of the recent Facebook posts is from the suspicious Palarong Pambansa page, which pokes fun at “fat public school teachers who need sports and fitness program to lose weight.”
In the DepEdi Wow post on May 23, Umali was portrayed as having a romantic relationship with a dance coach and to be making money from Palarong Pambansa.
Umali said his family is coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation to identify and file charges against the perpetrators of the fake Facebook posts and pages.
“My family continues to pray for the perpetrators to be enlightened and to stop their wrongdoings even if they have committed a big violation of the law,” he added.
In an earlier statement, Umali’s office requested the public “to help inform everybody about the fake news — fake Facebook accounts, pages and posts concerning DepEd Usec. Toni.”
“These are ALL LIES and we will take legal action against those responsible for these criminal actions,” the statement read. (Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA)
