Manila: The Anti-Cybercrime Group will intensify online monitoring of social media contents to prevent the spread of fake news during the three-day assemblies against corruption which began Sunday. Philippine National Police acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the directive follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s instruction, through Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, to maintain peace and order while ensuring that both online and ground activities remain safe.

According to Philippines News Agency, in a news release, Nartatez stated that while the PNP respects freedom of speech and the right to air grievances, these do not cover the posting of fabricated claims meant to mislead the public. ‘The presence of your PNP will not only be in the assembly areas and on the roads, but also on cyberspace in order to run after those who would dare to take advantage of this situation to mislead the public through fake news and fabricated claims,’ Nartatez said.

On Saturday, the PNP detected false posts alleging a crowd buildup and possible unrest in the Chino Roces Bridge area in Manila. Such claims were repeatedly debunked by ground units. Nartatez warned that some online actors appear to be intentionally spreading tension, with initial signs of coordinated or bot-generated posts now under validation. He assured that monitoring focuses only on misinformation, not legitimate dissent.

With the Iglesia ni Cristo’s three-day protest expected to draw over 100,000 attendees at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, Nartatez urged the public to verify information before sharing and rely on official PNP updates to avoid fueling unnecessary panic.