The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) clarified on Tuesday that a viral video showing the arrest of one of its officers for alleged extortion is not a recent incident, but a recycled clip from 2018.
In an official statement, the HPG explained that the video originated from an entrapment operation conducted in Pasay City in response to extortion complaints. The officer involved was dismissed from service on September 25, 2019, following the investigation.
The group emphasized that the footage is outdated and is being circulated again to mislead the public. Authorities have identified at least four Facebook pages responsible for re-uploading the video, contributing to the spread of misinformation.
The HPG has since coordinated with the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to trace the administrators of these pages. Legal action is now being prepared against those responsible for disseminating the misleading content.
“We urge the public to be vigilant and responsible when consuming information online. Not everything posted on social media is accurate or current. Always verify through official PNP pages or reliable news sources,” said HPG Director Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta.
The PNP-HPG also reminded the public to avoid sharing unverified content and to be cautious of false narratives that can spread rapidly online.
True to its mandate, the Highway Patrol Group reaffirmed its commitment to uphold integrity as the “Guardians of the Highways, Serving with a Smile.”
