The Philippine National Police (PNP) ordered a cybercrime investigation into a fake Facebook account using its chief’s identity and warned the public against fraudulent social media accounts impersonating police officials.
The warning followed the discovery of a fake Facebook account bearing the name ‘Jose Melencio Corpus’ and using the photograph of PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.
In a statement on Sunday, Nartatez condemned the unauthorized use of his identity and directed the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to immediately investigate and identify the individual or group behind the impersonation account.
‘This is a deliberate attempt to misuse my identity and exploit the public’s trust in the Philippine National Police,’ he said.
‘We will not allow anyone to use the name of the PNP or its officials to deceive, intimidate, or take advantage of any of our kababayan (fellow citizens),’ he added.
Nartatez also instructed the PNP-ACG to coordinate with Meta for account verification, preservation of digital evidence, and the prompt takedown of the fraudulent profile.
The PNP urged the public not to accept friend requests, engage in conversations, or respond to requests involving money, personal data, or favors coming from unverified accounts claiming to represent police officials. Furthermore, they advised citizens who encounter suspicious accounts posing as police officials to preserve screenshots and other relevant information as evidence.
Police regional offices and local police units were likewise instructed to strengthen monitoring efforts against fake social media accounts impersonating police officials.