Amid rising fuel prices and global energy tensions, posts warning of an “energy lockdown” began circulating online. The Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed the claim is false and said no such announcement exists.
The posts used the agency’s logo and urged the public to prepare supplies before April 20. Officials warned that misinformation can create unnecessary panic during an already sensitive energy situation.
The DOE clarified that the circulating advisories did not come from any official source. It urged Filipinos to verify information through government channels and avoid suspicious links that may lead to unsafe websites. Some of the content included AI-generated videos designed to appear credible and mislead users.
“In light of the current energy landscape, we warn anyone who deliberately fabricates stories and spreads fake news online to exploit the situation that they will be held to account to the fullest extent of the law,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez, as authorities moved to address disinformation tied to energy concerns.
Meanwhile, Malacañang warned that those who deliberately spread false information may face legal consequences. The Presidential Communications Office said it is coordinating with the Department of Justice to file cases against individuals who knowingly spread false claims. Officials added that attempts to mislead the public on energy supply or pricing will be treated as serious violations.
At the same time, power distributors in Cebu rejected reports of outages tied to the alleged lockdown. Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) and Mactan Electric Company, Inc. (MECO) both reported stable electricity supply. They advised consumers to rely only on verified updates from official platforms.
The DOE also reported that power supply in the Visayas remains sufficient, with no expected shortages. It noted that global oil prices have risen due to tensions in the Middle East affecting major supply routes. Despite this, the Philippines maintains a fuel buffer of more than 50 days, with continuous incoming supply.
