Cardinal David seeks NBI help against Facebook impersonator

MANILA, Philippines – Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David is seeking the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against a Facebook account that impersonates him to sell a supposed cure for hypertension. 

David shared with Rappler on Monday, January 6, a draft of his “formal complaint against online impersonation and false advertisement” by the fraudulent Facebook page named “Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David.”

Written under the letterhead of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Kalookan, the complaint was addressed to NBI’s cybercrime division chief and originally dated December 28, 2024.

David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said he is prepared to appear at the NBI to file this complaint under oath.

Informed of the cardinal’s concern, NBI Cybercrime Division chief Jeremy Lotoc told Rappler that their agency is ready to conduct a thorough investigation once David, 65, lodges the complaint by personal appearance. NBI director Judge Jaime Santiago was also apprised of David’s concern.

David said in his draft complaint: “The fake account falsely claims that I suffered from an aneurysm at the age of 63 and recovered after using a nontherapeutic drink called ‘Cholextrol.’ The post fraudulently portrays me as endorsing this product, which is entirely untrue.”

He added, “Despite my formal report to Facebook, the post remains active, continuing to mislead the public and damage my reputation.”

David said the individual or group behind the fraudulent account can be held liable for identity theft, cyber libel, and the use of false advertising to promote a product. 

David then made the following requests to the NBI:

• “Investigate the individual(s) or entity responsible for this fake account and its malicious activities”
• “Coordinate with Facebook to expedite the removal of the offending post and account”
• “Pursue legal action against the responsible parties to prevent further harm to my reputation and the public”

This is one of the first complaints drafted by a high-ranking Catholic leader against online scammers, as calls mount to hold them — and Facebook — legally accountable.

Meta ‘really a partner in crime’

Speaking to Rappler on Monday, David noted that fraudulent Facebook accounts have also been made for three other Filipino cardinals — Luis Antonio Tagle, Jose Advincula, and Orlando Quevedo — as well as for the Pope’s ambassador to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles Brown.

“Thousands have reported it to Meta, and the standard reply is that Meta cannot take them down, following its rules. It means they are really a partner in crime in the algorithm-controlled dissemination of fake accounts, fake news, political disinformation, etc.,” David said.

David recalled that he posted a link on his Facebook page “warning people that the said advertisement was a scam.”

“Facebook took down my post and warned me that I was violating their rules,” said David.

David’s staff told him that “the only solution is to pay Facebook P400 monthly to guarantee my ‘verified account’ is the authentic one, so that all others that are reported can be taken down.”

David voiced disbelief at the inaction not only of Meta, but also of government agencies, such as the Department of Health, whose longtime undersecretary, Enrique “Eric” Tayag, was also namedropped by the Facebook fraudster.

“I am surprised that the scammer is even using DOH and namedropping Dr. Eric Tayag, and even these government agencies are not doing anything to investigate these cyber criminals,” he said.

Rappler also emailed Meta, the company that runs Facebook, for its reaction to the cardinal’s statements, but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

Filipino Catholic bishops and priests have been favorite targets of fraudulent Facebook accounts. 

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, a former president of the CBCP, has repeatedly raised the alarm on fraudulent Facebook accounts using his name. Rappler emailed Meta for comment about Villegas’ complaint in May 2024, but did not receive a response.

In October 2024, priest and content creator Father Fiel Pareja, also known as “Father TikTok,” flagged a fraudulent Facebook account that showed him promoting “holy water from the Vatican” to cure cancer and diabetes.

In October 2023, another Facebook page falsely claimed that Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma blessed a lucky charm called “Santo Niño Hubad.”

Fake accounts have been a perennial problem of Facebook, with Rappler having reported extensively on this as early as 2016. Governments worldwide, however, have long been at a loss on regulating Facebook, including its use in spreading lies online. – Rappler.com