By Alec Go
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday, Aug. 25, that it is investigating the surge of “bogus and recycled crime videos” that have recently surfaced on various social media platforms.
In a news release, it said PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has directed the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to boost cyber patrolling and to look into the authenticity of several trending videos that are allegedly crime-related.
ACG Acting Director BGen. Joel Doria said majority of the circulating videos on attempted rape, attempted abduction, and alleged missing persons happened years ago and have been solved by the national police.
“The videos are being recycled while others are edited pictures that are posted to probably gain followers or to depict a picture of an unstable government,” he said.
“We have already ordered our men to step up to the challenge to ensure that malicious/fake videos that are not real are taken down in order not to mislead people into believing it,” he added.
The PNP said its action stemmed from a viral video about an alleged female victim being heard screaming for help, indicating a possible sexual assault.
Meanwhile, Azurin noted the community’s participation in reporting “anomalous” or “illegal” activities in cyberspace on top of the PNP’s monitoring activities on social media.
The PNP has launched Malasakit, Kaayusan, Kapayaan tungo sa Kaunlaran (MKK=K) and the Kapulisan, Simbahan, at Pamayanan (Kasimbayanan) which also involve cyber patrolling.
“Ang ating mga cybercops ay patuloy na magsasagawa ng cyber patrolling upang subaybayan ang lahat ng social media platforms at matiyak ang pagbawas ng mga kriminal na gawain sa pamamagitan ng cyberspace sa bawat barangay,” Azurin said. – gb
