Manila, March 23 -- The Northern Police District (NPD) has intensified its monitoring of social media platforms and online news sources to assist in combating fake news ahead of the May 12 elections.

Enhanced monitoring and fact-checking are part of the multi-pronged strategy to prevent disinformation and misinformation, according to the NPD news release Sunday.

"The spread of fake news is a serious offense that can have dire consequences, especially during elections," NPD chief Col. Josefino Ligan said. "We are committed to ensuring that the public has access to accurate and reliable information so they can make informed choices."

According to Ligan, a dedicated NPD team will be responsible for verifying information and debunking fal...