THE National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday said it has summoned Mocha Uson, deputy administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, to explain her post about personal protective equipment (PPE) that she said were purchased by the Department of Health.
Uson posted photos of the PPE last month on her Facebook page but netizens pointed out that one of the photos was from a popular mall chain that donated the some of the PPE units. Uson then edited her post and apologized.
NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said Uson is being investigated by the NBI’s cybercrime division, in accordance with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra’s directive to look into all possible violations of protocols
of the enhanced community quarantine, including the posting of false
information.
“She is included in the probe for alleged fake news as ordered by the
Secretary,” Lavin said.
Uson was asked to appear before the NBI on May 18.
An NBI official said no charge has been filed against Uson, who is known for spreading “fake news” through social media platforms.
The Bayanihan We Heal As One Act states that anyone who spreads false information about the pandemic will be jailed for two months or fined from P10,000 to P1 million.
In May 2017, Uson posted a photo showing soldiers kneeling and praying.
She said they were Filipino soldiers who fought terrorists in Marawi City. The photo was that of Honduran soldiers. Recently, she posted pictures of Vice President Leni Robredo and said she was distributing only “pan de sal” and water to victims of Taal Volcano’s eruption.
