PNP to creators of fake Bato FB accounts: 'Babalikan namin kayo'

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday warned the creators of 28 Facebook accounts using the name of PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa that they would face investigation and possible charges if they will not deactivate the pages.

Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz, head of the Police Community Relations Group, said they learned that some of the administrators of the accounts are extorting money from their followers who were asking for assistance or are posting lewd photos.

He said the creators of the fake accounts could be held liable for identity theft.

“‘Yung iba parang fan page ni chief PNP but yung iba nananamantala, yung iba nanghihingi ng pamasko, yung iba pag may ini-report doon sa page na yun tapos sasabihin na sige aaksyunan namin yan pero magpadala kayo ng pera sa ganitong account,” he told reporters.

“So hindi maganda para sa amin iyon. Talagang ginagamit nila yung pangalan, even yung picture ni chief PNP para makapanloko ng  tao at hindi namin kinukunsinti yan,” he added.

Cruz said they are monitoring each of the fake Facebook page using Dela Rosa’s name.

“So wina-warningan ko po ang mga gumagamit ng account ni chief PNP, kung sa tingin n’yo ay nakakatulong kayo, malalaman namin ‘yan pag binabasa namin ang account page n’yo. And kung  kayo naman ay nagi-extort [ay] tigil-tigilan n’yo na ho dahil babalikan namin kayo,” he said.

“Sa ngayon ay tinatrabaho na namin ‘yan so inaalam na namin kung sino ang may gawa ng mga fake acocunts na yan at pag hindi pa tumigil ay talagang sesentro ang imbestigasyon ng PNP sa kanila at ‘yung kaukulang kaso ay pwede naming i-file sa kanila,” he added.

Cruz said they will refer the said accounts to the Anti-Cyber Crime Group and even to Facebook management for the taking down of the fake accounts.

Cruz said they sought the help of media to expose the fake accounts to prevent them from victimizing their followers.

“Baka marami pang mabiktima kaya inagad agad namin sa tulong ng media, inilabas agad kasi ayaw naming may maloko pa. The more na nakababad ‘yan d’yan baka mas maraming maniwala so hangga’t maari ay mailabas na ito sa tulong ninyo para hindi na magkaroon ng biktima,” he said.  —KBK, GMA News