CEBU CITY — A 50-year-old lawyer was arrested after he posted on his Facebook account the names of persons whom he said tested positive for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
Facing a string of charges is Rommel Rosito, who was arrested on Friday by operatives of the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO 7) in Barangay Basak-Pardo here.
Police Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, chief of PRO 7, said the lawyer violated Republic Act (RA) 11332 otherwise known as “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Events of Public Health Concern Act,” RA 11469 known as the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act ,” RA 10173 known as the “Data Privacy Act of 2012,” and RA 10951 in relation to RA 10175 or the “Cyber Crime Prevention Act of 2012.”
Rosito had posted on his Facebook account the names of seven persons who tested positive for COVID-19.
Several netizens called out Rosito for the post. The lawyer had deleted the post but insisted that he only posted the names of the persons and their addresses so the people can avoid the places they had visited.
Ferro warned the public not to post something on social media that may stir panic and anxiety.
The PRO 7 director added that similar actions “will be dealt with accordingly.”
“This is a warning to everyone. We will run after you regardless of your stature,” said Ferro. (Calvin D. Cordova)
