Cardinal Tagle’s Facebook account fake

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The archdiocese of Manila on Friday warned the public against circulars and announcements issued through a fake Facebook account of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.

Peachy Yamsuan, head of the Manila archdiocese’s office of communications, said the archdiocese had already called the attention of the hugely popular social-networking site, and yet the bogus account has continued to operate.

Yamsuan was referring to the Facebook page under the name Luis Antonio Cardinal Gokim Tagle, which has garnered 4,247 likes since it was created on Dec. 14, 2011, two days after he was installed as archbishop of Manila.

“Please be advised that the above mentioned Facebook account is not that of Cardinal Tagle, and that all circulars and announcements placed there are not official and do not come from him or the chancery office of the Archdiocese of Manila,” said Yamsuan.

Among the circulars issued through the fake Facebook account is one that announced the supposed collection of payments for T-shirts to be used for the Archdiocesan Laity Weekend and a surprise birthday celebration for Tagle, who is turning 57 on Saturday.

“Please keep this a secret. Instead of a big birthday celebration, we will hold a simple lunch to be held [at] the Archbishop’s Hall on Friday, June 20, 2014, at 11:30 a.m. Instead of gifts, please donate to the charities of the archbishop, which will help his ministries as well,” said one of the posted circulars.

The circular was addressed to the clergy and faithful of the Manila archdiocese and indicated Fr. Reginald Malicdem, the archbishop’s private secretary, as the signatory.

In 2012, Tagle notified the public that there were fan pages and personal accounts using his name on Facebook without his consent.

The archbishop had earlier said that he has no personal Facebook account, and that his one and only Facebook page, “Bishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle,” was being maintained by the Jesuit Communications. It contains videos on his spiritual reflections on the Sunday Gospel and Bible readings.

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