ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas denied having taken a test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
A social media post claimed Treñas took the test after having been exposed to a person with the illness.
In the Facebook page of a certain Cessa Bales, a post read, “I was listening to the radio…Ilonggos! Let’s pray for Mayor Jerry Treñas. He is undergoing a test for he had a close contact with a person positive for COVID-19. #PrayforMayorJerryTreñas.”
In his Facebook page, the city mayor refuted the post.
“Indi matuod nga nagpa-test ako para sa COVID-19. Kag indi man matuod nga naka-close contact ako sa isa ka tawo nga positibo sa nasambit nga virus,” Treñas clarified.
He assured the public he would continue to be transparent with his health condition.
“Kun matuod ina, ako mismo ang mapahibalo sa inyo tanan. Prangka man ako kag wala gid nagabinutig sa inyo,” stressed Treñas.
Nevertheless, the city mayor expressed gratefulness to those who showed concern.
“Madamu nga salamat sa mga naghatag pagkabalaka sa akon, pero indi na kamo magkabalaka bangud sa liwat, indi ina matuod,” the mayor added.
The controversial post was taken down yesterday. A subsequent post stated that the Facebook account Cessa Bales was hacked.
Public Safety and Transportation Management Office head Jeck Conlu said an investigation would be conducted.
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) opened hotline numbers early this week through which the public could alert it about people spreading “fake news” on COVID-19.
The telephone numbers are the following:
* 09995587914
* 09999955072
* 09985986101
* 09989967112
People should not spread fake news and make people panic, said Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 information officer.
The four hotline numbers are open 24-7.
“We will run after those spreading fake news on COVID-19,” said Malong.
The PRO-6 launched the hotline numbers following the arrest of a resident of Barangay Pandac, Pavia, Iloilo who was subsequently charged with violating Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code (unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances).
Adelbert Pedregosa, 51, was arrested on Saturday. He reportedly posted on his Facebook page, “Please help me spread the news dri sa Deca Homes brgy Pandac, Pavia 30 persons listed/classified persons under monitoring all had travel history abroad, Manila and other parts of the country yet they refused to put themselves under home quarantine hambal sang brgy captain Pandac Pavia kaina sang nag estoryahanay kami kaina ni brgy captain perti ka salawayon sang mga ini wla sila naga tinir sa ila balay naga lagaw sila ya.”
The post further read: “I’m afraid if ang 1/4 sang 30 PUMs have COVID-19 after being tested malapta gid ang COVID-19 dri sa amon brgy sa Pavia kag sa bilog nga province of Iloilo. Please share this post kay Dr. Trabado and to Gov. Toto Defensor kay tindogan ko ini ya ang gin post the next Italy is Deca Homes brgy Pandac, Pagka province of Iloilo.”
The Pavia police released Pedregosa after the latter posted a bail bond of P6,000./PN
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