BACOLOD City – Councilor Caesar Distrito said he will file charges against individuals who are behind Facebook accounts using his name.
“I intend to file a case against those perpetrators or authors,” said Distrito, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on laws, ordinances and good government.
Distrito added that Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Rep. Greg Gasataya were also victims of fake Facebook account makers.
Some of these bogus social media accounts, according to Distrito, are “Caesar Distrito,” “Mayor Bing Leonardia,” and “Cong Greg Gasataya Basketball.”
The councilor believes that people behind the accounts want to “destroy” the top local officials by posting false information.
“They have to remember that cyber law prohibits the dissemination of false or libelous statements/stories through social media,” stressed Distrito, also a lawyer.
He added that making an online account claiming to be someone else is identity theft.
Distrito said people who made the fake accounts must be “mindful” of the existing laws that may “prosecute them anytime soon.”
“Let us be responsible and truthful – whether politically or personally – as there is a corresponding consequence to our actions,” Distrito added. “They should not just think that they can freely and forever enjoy maligning others through illegal and malicious means.”/PN
