The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) filed cybercrime charges on Friday against two individuals accused of spreading fake news through their social media accounts.

PRO-7 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan announced that the charges stemmed from a manipulated video of a procession related to the Fiesta Senor, which was falsely presented as a prayer rally supporting former President Rodrigo Duterte following his arrest.

The individuals formally charged are Leocimar Magallanes and Salic Daurong, who now face charges under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Police investigators were able to gather sufficient evidence linking them to the falsified content.

Maranan explained that they had coordinated with telecommunications companies and internet providers to trace the digital footprint of those responsible for spreading the false information.

He reminded the public that spreading false information online is a serious offense that undermines public trust and safety.

The controversy began on 13 March when a video was shared on Facebook.

The video featured a crowd at the 460th Fiesta Senor Penitential Walk with Mary, accompanied by a video message purportedly from Duterte.

Maranan urged the public to remain vigilant and responsible in their online activities to prevent the spread of misinformation.