UST Hospital (USTH) has vowed to file criminal and civil cases against a social media user who falsely accused it of selling donated personal protective equipment (PPE) for profit.
Hannah Go has apologized on Facebook and said she lacked verified information prior to making accusations against the hospital.
“[I] am clearly not a journalist and do not have the necessary training to handle this kind of information. I have only shared out of anger at hearing this sort of injustice happening,” Go said in her post.
The hospital management said in a statement on March 27 that the apology was “inadequate to repair the damage caused to its good name and reputation.”
“[T]o likewise deter irresponsible persons from spreading false and libelous information, most especially during crisis situations, the hospital will be pursuing appropriate legal actions against Ms. Go once the Covid-19 pandemic is resolved,” the statement read.
Go deactivated her Facebook account soon after releasing her public apology.
On March 23, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal As One Act” in response to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Under the law, those who create, perpetrate, or spread false information on the Covid-19 crisis face two months in jail and/or a fine of up to P1 million.
