The Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) warned netizens not to use social media to spread disinformation against candidates in the upcoming national and local elections.

PNP-ACG spokesperson Lt. Wallen Mae Arancillo said strategies and measures have been formulated to identify fake accounts being used for a smear campaign against any candidate.

She said the ACG is now investigating one social media account while three others are for regular filing in the prosecutor’s office.

Arancillo said the four cases were from Ilocos Region, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga region.

The complainants, she said, were two mayors, one board member and a barangay captain.

The complaints involved threats and other allegations which, Arancillo said, could be considered defamatory.

“The accounts they used were fake so we applied for cyber warrants in courts to determine the real identity of these people and prove that they were the ones who indeed posted the defamatory contents,” she added.

Arancillo said netizens should refrain from posting unverified information to spare them from any legal troubles.

“We have been monitoring, cyber-patrolling. So, to those who are posting fake news and misinformation, always remember that these are prohibited by the laws and with fines and imprisonment,” she said.

The election campaign for national candidates started on February 11, while for local bets will begin on March 28.

Over 18,000 elective positions will be up for grabs in the May 12 midterm polls. (PNA)