Former House quad-committee (quad-comm) co-chairman Joseph Stephen Paduano has slammed as fake the statement being attributed to him regarding the encounter between government troops and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Oriental Mindoro.

In a social media card shared by Jay Sonza, Paduano was falsely quoted as blaming President Marcos for the reported bombing in the mountains of Mindoro, and alleging that many youths—some of them students—were hit.

He also supposedly accused the Chief Executive of being “heartless” and of having used them during their time in Congress.

“Mariin kong pinabubulaanan ang mga kumakalat na social media posts na nag-uugnay sa akin sa isang pahayag hinggil sa nangyaring engkwentro sa Oriental Mindoro sa pagitan ng Philippine Army at rebeldeng grupong NPA,” Paduano said in a statement on Sunday, Jan. 11.

(I vehemently deny the circulating social media posts linking me to a statement regarding the encounter in Oriental Mindoro between the Philippine Army and the rebel group NPA.

These posts are clearly false, fabricated, and never came from me.)

“Ang mga nasabing posts ay malinaw na huwad, gawa-gawa at kailanma’y hindi nagmula sa akin (These posts are clearly fake, fabricated, and did not originate from me at any point),” said the former Abang Lingkod Party-list representative.

He said the circulating claims run counter to his long-standing record in Congress, particularly his consistent support for national defense and security.

“Sa aking mahigit isang dekadang pagsisilbi bilang kinatawan sa Kongreso, matibay at buo ang ating naging suporta sa sektor ng depensa at pambansang seguridad (In my more than a decade of service as a representative in Congress, our support for the defense sector and national security has been firm and unwavering),” Paduano said.

Known as "Mr. Contempt" of the quad-comm during the previous 19th Congress, Paduano pushed for measures aimed at strengthening the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and addressing insurgency.

“Isinulong natin ang mga panukala tungo pagpapalakas ng ating sandatahang lakas, at binigyang priyoridad ang mga hakbang na tumutugon sa usapin ng insurehensiya. Anumang pahayag na salungat dito ay sadyang pagbaluktot sa aking paninindigan,” he noted.

(We have pushed for measures to strengthen our armed forces and prioritized actions addressing the issue of insurgency. Any statement contrary to this is a deliberate distortion of my position.)

The former House minority leader warned against the dangers of disinformation, even as he said that he was looking into possible legal actions.

“Hindi dapat isawalang-bahala ang mga ganitong uri ng panlilinlang. Kasalukuyan nating pinag-aaralan ang lahat ng maaaring legal na hakbang, kabilang ang pagsasampa ng kaso kung kinakailangan, upang papanagutin ang mga sangkot sa likod ng mga panlolokong ito.”

(Such forms of deception must not be taken lightly. We are currently studying all possible legal actions, including the filing of cases if necessary, to hold accountable those behind these fraudulent acts.)

Paduano also urged the public to exercise caution and critical judgment, especially when consuming information online.

“Nanawagan ako sa publiko na maging mapanuri sa mga impormasyon, lalo na sa social media, upang hindi tayo maging kasangkapan sa pagpapalaganap ng anumang kasinungalingan at disinpormasyon,” the ex-solon said.

(I call on the public to be discerning of information, especially on social media, so that we do not become instruments in spreading lies and disinformation.)