By Jel Santos
Vice President Leni Robredo expressed gratitude to the Manila Bulletin for calling out and correcting a Facebook user spreading malicious lies against her.
Vice President Leni Robredo
(Photo by OVP / MANILA BULLETIN)
Recently, it has come to the attention of the Manila Bulletin that an edited screenshot of its news article has been circulating on social media. This is far from the original article published online.
The malicious fake news headline used was "Robredo asks Congress to allow early campaign for Liberal Party only, other parties not allowed." Meantime, the real headline of the news article written by reporter Raymund Antonio was titled: "Robredo asks Congress to restore law vs. early, premature campaigning."
The tampered news item was shared by a certain Facebook user named Christian Pido on a "MARCOS LOYALIST" Facebook page. It was accompanied by a caption saying the vice president wants a special treatment for Liberal Party.
"Nagpapasalamat tayo na ang Manila Bulletin at Rappler ay kinorrect ang kasinungalingan na kumakalat (We are thankful to the Manila Bulletin, and Rappler for correcting lies that are spreading on social media)," Robredo said on Sunday over her radio program.
"Kung titingnan, kung sino 'yung nag-share, nasa Marcos page, so ibig sabihin, Marcos din pinanggalingan nito (If we would check who shared it, it was on a Marcos page, meaning it came from a Marcos)," she added.
She said this is another attempt to deceive the public and ruin her credibility through lies.
"Hindi lang pagnanakaw ang ginagawa, pati paglilinlang. Ito talaga, hindi nila hayaan ang katotohanan para malaman ng lahat, kailangan pa nila i-distort ang facts (They don't just steal, but they also deceive. This is the real deal, they don't want people to know the truth, they have to distort facts)."
As such, she thanked online news site, Rappler, for also correcting a fake news against her. This time, about Robredo's housing project in Marawi.
Rappler, according to the vice president, debunked a fake news circulating on social media saying her housing project in Marawi has no water and electricity.
"Mayroon pang recent na lumabas na 'yung mga pabahay din namin sa Marawi ay walang tubig at kuryente, 'yung ay kasinungalingan. Actually, kinorrect na rin 'yun sa isang Rappler article, na kasinungalingan 'yun. Kasi, 'yung totoo, mayroon (Just recently, a lie also circulated saying that our housing project in Marawi has no water and electricity. Actually, it was corrected by a Rappler article. The truth is, the housing project has water and electricity)," Robredo said.
Robredo said they made sure their housing project in Marawi has electricity and water despite its location.
"Doon sa lugar na binigay sa amin, para mag-build ng pabahay, mahirap talaga ang tubig dun. 'Yun nga prinoproblema namin noon pero hinanapan namin ng paraan. In fact, naglagay kami ng provisions sa mga tangke, mayroon din rainwater catcher sa bawat bahay (In the area designated to us to build houses, water is so hard to access there. That is the main problem we fixed. In fact, we placed provisions at water tanks, rainwater catchers were also installed)."