Hoax or not, the cops of Caraga Administrative Region are taking the so-called Momo Challenge, in which children are allegedly convinced by an online character to perform dangerous tasks, including self-harm, very seriously.
So seriously, in fact, that despite being derided by multiple media outlets as a hoax, they’ve launched an information drive warning students and parents about it, which reached its high point today when cops led the burning of a Momo effigy at Libertad National High School in Butuan City.
WATCH: This isn’t a meme. The PNP with high school students burn an effigy of the ‘Momo challenge’ image in Butuan City. (Video from Caraga police) | via @rambotalabongpic.twitter.com/HTR3NLIwwu
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) March 4, 2019
In a phone interview with Coconuts Manila, Zena Panaligan, the Chief Clerk of the Public Information Office (PIO) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Caraga, said that the effigy-burning happened at 6:30am today after the school’s flag-raising ceremony. The information drive was the brainchild of the regional director, Police Brigadier General Gilbert Cruz.
“The police does not believe that Momo is real. She’s not a real person,” she said. “But it exists online in apps. So we launched an information drive that would protect youths from cyberbullying.”
The information drive started early last week when the PIO started posting on their Facebook account tips for parents and students on how best to deal with Momo.
A few of the tips include telling kids that Momo does not exist in real life, making sure that someone guides children whenever they’re online, and avoiding friends who would pressure children into joining the reported challenge.
Panaligan said that the cops have started visiting primary and high schools to warn children about the challenge. At present, their office has heard of a rumor that a child living somewhere in Agusan del Sur cut her wrists because of the challenge, but a blotter has not been filed with the police.
The Momo madness started when unverified reports stated that a scary looking character named Momo (which is actually a statue made by a Japanese artist) was appearing on YouTube and WhatsApp to convince children to harm themselves.
However, publications like Vox, the BBC, The Guardian, and The Atlantic have already called the Momo Challenge a viral hoax.
We want to clear something up regarding the Momo Challenge: We’ve seen no recent evidence of videos promoting the Momo Challenge on YouTube. Videos encouraging harmful and dangerous challenges are against our policies.
— YouTube (@YouTube) February 27, 2019
YouTube has already released a statement to say there’s no evidence that Momo appears on its platform.
Late last month, reports surfaced that an 11-year-old died in Quezon City allegedly because of online challenges like Momo, causing public concern. PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde even warned parents about the challenge.
