Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched an investigation to identify those behind fake social media posts falsely claiming that the June 8 opening of classes had been postponed, warning that those responsible could face legal consequences.
According to Philippines News Agency, the PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) has been tasked to trace the source of the misleading content, which was earlier flagged by the Department of Education (DepEd). 'We have directed the appropriate units, including the Anti-Cybercrime Group, to validate the incident and determine the source of the misleading post. Those found responsible may face appropriate legal consequences under existing laws,' PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement on Monday.
Police regional offices and local police units have also been directed to monitor the spread of the misinformation in their respective areas. Nartatez urged the public to exercise caution when consuming and sharing information online, particularly announcements that directly affect schools and communities.
'We urge parents, students, and the public to rely only on official announcements from DepEd and other authorized government agencies. If they encounter suspicious posts, they should refrain from sharing them and report them to the proper authorities,' he said.
Meanwhile, Nartatez commended commanders, personnel, and force multipliers for helping ensure the peaceful and orderly opening of classes nationwide. More than 55,000 security personnel have been mobilized under Oplan Balik-Eskwela for School Year 2026-2027 as an estimated 26 million students return to classrooms across the country.
The deployment includes 28,751 PNP personnel, 4,079 personnel from other units, and 22,677 force multipliers from partner agencies and community organizations. Nationwide, 9,319 Police Assistance Desks have been established in campuses and clustered schools, while 9,525 mobile patrol units were deployed to strengthen police visibility and response capabilities in school zones.
'Our personnel on the ground know what to do in as many incidents that may arise. Everything was carefully and properly coordinated and planned with other government agencies,' Nartatez said. He said all police commanders had been directed to maintain security measures throughout the week and ensure regular police visibility and beat patrols in school areas.
