MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it will trace and investigate the disinformation attempt to mislead the ongoing probe into the case of 31 missing "sabungeros" (cockfighting aficionados).
"The apparent attempt to derail the investigation was uncovered in a social media post showing images of PNP SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operations) personnel conducting crime scene investigation on several bodies," PNP public information office chief, Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba said in a statement.
The same post, circulating in social media, claimed that the bodies were that of the missing victims allegedly found in Tanay, Rizal.
However, a closer analysis of the images proved that these were taken during the investigation of an ambush in Guindulungan, Maguindanao last February 12 where nine persons died and three were hurt.
"The author of this disinformation will himself be investigated for his actions and a possible link to the case of the missing persons," Alba added.
On Thursday, the Senate opened its inquiry into the rising number of missing persons allegedly involved in cockfighting and its online version.
Lawmakers have asked the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to suspend licenses of e-sabong operators pending the results of the investigation into the case of the missing sabungeros. (PNA)
