The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR has strongly denied news circulating on social media of alleged government casualties following an armed encounter in Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
The PRO NIR in a statement issued today, June 17, reiterated that all police personnel involved in the incident are safe and accounted for, branding the online posts as false and misleading.
Personnel from the 1st Platoon, 2nd Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion – Negros Island Region (RMFB-NIR) encountered suspected members of a Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) on Sunday, June 14, a police report said.
The troops were rendering security assistance in Sitio Kabalagnan, Barangay Lalong, Calatrava, when the clash broke out, and authorities have confirmed there are zero casualties or injuries on the government side, it said.
Expressing serious concern over the irresponsible dissemination of unverified information, regional police warned that such fake news creates unnecessary public alarm and causes undue emotional distress to the families of the uniformed officers.
To address the issue, PRO NIR is launching an investigation in coordination with the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU-NIR) to identify the authors, administrators, and operators of the social media page that published the false report.
Additionally, the incident is being reported to Facebook for appropriate action pursuant to its policies and community standards against the spread of misinformation.
The regional police command stated that it is actively exploring all available legal remedies against the individuals responsible for the malicious dissemination of false information online, subject to the outcome of the investigation and the determination of probable cause by proper prosecutorial authorities.
The PRO NIR strongly encouraged the public to exercise discernment and responsibility in their social media use by verifying information through official sources before sharing or reposting online content.
It added that it remains steadfast in its commitment to truth, accountability, public safety, and the preservation of peace and order throughout the Negros Island Region.*
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