MANILA - The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday it has formed a task force that would deal with crimes prevalent during the month-long lockdown of Luzon.

“PNP Task Force Kontra Peke” will deal with purveyors of fake news, hoarders, and businesses that sell overpriced goods in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has forced millions of Filipinos to stay at home, said Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, deputy chief for operations of the PNP.

“Hahanapin po natin 'yung mga peke [na balita], itong naglalabas nito pati operation sa isinasagawa against hoarding and overpricing,” Eleazar said in a televised briefing.

(We will find peddlers of fake news and conduct operations against hoarding and overpricing.)

The task force was formed in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, he said.

PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa last week said he tasked the police force’s anti-cybercrime group to trace those spreading wrong information online after fake reports of massive looting in Manila went viral at the start of the month-long Luzon lockdown.

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