Police to probe Bangus Festival fake news peddler
DAGUPAN CIO FILES COMPLAINT
THE Dagupan City Information Office filed a formal complaint before the local police against a Facebook user over fake information posted about the 2025 Bangus Festival as well as illegally using an official logo.
The Facebook user, identified as “Ron Cayabyab” with designated under ID number 615615680909, used the official logo of Dagupan City and was promoting the Bangus Festival with fake and false information by stealing the identities of different individuals who are supposedly going to perform during the “Kalutan ed Dalan” event on April 30.
The complaint cited Cayabyab for alleged violation of the Revised Penal Code, particularly Article 154 (peddling fake /false information) and Article 179 (illegal use of uniform/insignia).
Mayor Belen Fernandez had appealed to Cayabyab to refrain from using “our templates, to avoid confusion and/or fake news,” a clear attempt to sabotage the annual street party that was expected to attract some 600,000 participants.
At the same time, she had warned that unauthorized use of government logos or insignias can lead to criminal prosecution and imprisonment
The fake news spread by ‘Cayabyab’s video coverage came on the heels of the staging of the “Gilon-Gilon ed Dalan” on April 26, when members of the political opposition made a scene when they insisted on holding their own motorcade along the routes set for the street dancers and festival floats.
Members of the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) and the Dagupan police prevented them from staging their own parade because they were not registered as part of the official parade, over the insistence of former Mayor Brian Lim of their right to join the parade.
Mayor Fernandez defended the action of the POSO and police who were shown on video berated by Lim.
“Their unannounced participation would have disrupted what was carefully planned to make sure that the flow of the parade and motorcade would be orderly to allow everybody to enjoy and to make sure that all participants and the audience are safe,” she said.
Fernandez clarified that while activities of the Bangus Festival are open to everybody, any intent by any group to participate should be coordinated with the event’s executive committee. (Leonardo Micua)
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