Rappler's latest stories on Rappler Fact Check
FALSE: COVID-19 not real, Bill Gates behind the disease
The viral video contains several unproven conspiracy theories that were already debunked by fact checking organizations
FALSE: Court junks ABS-CBN franchise renewal
It is Congress, not the Court, that deliberates on franchise renewals. ABS-CBN’s petition also still remains pending before the SC, which will resume deliberations on July 13.
FALSE: Boracay photos in 'disente' vs 'bastos' times
(UPDATED) The 'disente' photo was taken in March 2018, while the 'bastos' photo was a stock photo that has been used in some articles shortly before Boracay's closure in April 2018
FALSE: PH economy got worse after Marcos was ousted
Data show that the Philippine economy was already falling during the latter part of Marcos’ dictatorship
FALSE: Sharon Cuneta says Duterte is weak, dilawan will return to power in 2022
Cuneta did not say that the President is weak or that the Liberal Party will return to power in 2022
FALSE: No specific mention of warrantless arrests in the Constitution
There are two sections in the 1987 Constitution that mention warrantless arrests
FALSE: Tuob is a cure for COVID-19
The Department of Health says that tuob or steam inhalation does not kill the coronavirus that causes COVID-19
FALSE: Robredo 'says' lockdown should have started October 2019
The quote card containing the false quote edited an actual Rappler quote card featuring the Vice President
FALSE: Philippines is country with highest gold reserves
Official data from the World Bank show that the Philippines has never had the highest amount of gold reserves since 1960. IMF data also show the country is only ranked 23rd.
FALSE: Piolo Pascual dies in carjacking incident
The video clip in the claim is from a 2015 news report on a different carjacking incident
FALSE: Dwayne Johnson dies in June 2020
The celebrity is still alive. There is also no official report of Johnson’s death from BBC News, the source cited by the posts.
FALSE: Philippines among the 'lowest in COVID-19 cases, deaths in Asia'
The Philippines ranks 15th out of 49 Asian countries when it comes to total number of novel coronavirus cases and No. 2 in ASEAN in terms of deaths
FALSE: Abu Sayyaf thanked actors, politicians opposing anti-terror bill
The website where the information came from says its source was only a meme that was made for fun
FALSE: OVP sent spoiled food to frontliners at Diliman Doctors Hospital
Both the hospital and Vice President Leni Robredo deny the incident took place
FALSE: Heat, garlic, ginger can prevent COVID-19
There is no official cure or preventive treatment for COVID-19. The supposed cures in the post have been debunked by the WHO and fact checkers around the world
PARTLY FALSE: Cory Aquino to blame for media ownership provision in 1987 Constitution
The section that allows only Filipino citizens to own mass media in the country is also in the 1973 Constitution ratified under the Marcos administration
FALSE: Protesters at U.P. did not practice physical distancing
Sandra Aguinaldo, the reporter who originally uploaded the photo under scrutiny, posts photos from other angles and clarifies that there was physical distancing during the protest
FALSE: OFW positive for coronavirus raped by camel in Riyadh
The video containing the preposterous claim is manipulated from a 2012 report about an OFW raped by police in Kuwait
3 things to remember in fact checking historical claims
Remember these things every time you see a suspicious historical claim on social media, according to Filipino historian Xiao Chua
FALSE: DSWD 'gives P5,500 to every Facebook user'
Cash aid for every Facebook user? No such thing, says the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
FALSE: Ex-BIR chief Kim Henares 'speaks up' on computation of ABS-CBN's taxes
The video does not contain a statement or admission from former Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner Kim Henares about ABS-CBN's taxes
FALSE: Actor McCoy De Leon says Duterte urgently needs mental help
The graphic is manipulated and is not from ABS-CBN’s official channels
FALSE: Bill Gates is developing COVID-19 vaccines with microchips
There are no reports on studies being done on a COVID-19 vaccine with a microchip; Bill Gates has also denied the claim
FALSE: Prolonged face mask use causes hypoxia, hypercapnia
(UPDATED) WHO Philippines says using face masks does not cause hypoxia nor excessive carbon dioxide intake
FALSE: ABS-CBN's 'effective tax rate in 2018 was at negative 5%'
ABS-CBN's 2018 audited financial statement says they had an effective tax rate of 4%
FALSE: Duterte honored by Time magazine
The video wrongly equated 'strongman' with someone brave and firm, when in fact it is a term that describes a leader who controls by force of will and character
FALSE: Mar Roxas quote on mass testing, frontliners
There are no news reports or statements that contain this supposed quote by Roxas
FALSE: Photo of world's biggest anaconda in the Philippines
There are no reports of such a sighting, and the photo was manipulated
FALSE: Tanduay and Zonrox mix can be used as alcohol
Experts and companies involved issued warnings about the mixture, saying it could 'form a dangerous chemical that has toxic effects' and 'may cause serious harm'
PARTLY FALSE: Ex-Ateneo de Davao University president quote on Duterte
Only part of the quote is accurate: 'I admit [Duterte] says crazy things but he gets things done.' The rest of what is attributed to him isn't true.
FALSE: OFW in Saudi beheaded after testing positive for coronavirus
The video containing the claim is from a 2015 report about the beheading of an OFW convicted for murder
FALSE: McCoy de Leon quotes on Duterte, ABS-CBN
McCoy De Leon did not say these quotes, and ABS-CBN News did not publish these graphics
FALSE: Video of protesters breaking into the White House
The video was taken at the Ohio Statehouse, not the White House
FALSE: New Philippine flag design on June 12, 2020
The colors and design of the Philippine flag are mandated by the Constitution and the Flag and Heraldic Code. Any changes will require approved amendments to these laws.
FALSE: Poe, Hontiveros silent over coronavirus crisis
Both senators have responded to the coronavirus crisis by doing their jobs as legislators and by providing assistance to frontliners
FALSE: ABS-CBN violated Constitution for being in airwaves for more than 50 years
Law experts say Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta misinterpreted the provision in the Constitution regarding the 50-year cap for franchises
FALSE: 'DepEd announces Grade 13'
The supposed screenshot of a news report was created with a meme generator tool
FALSE: Hollywood artists praise Duterte on Twitter
Jackie Chan, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Justin Bieber did not tweet about President Rodrigo Duterte
FALSE: Photo of Duterte portrait outside Japan national museum
The original photo showed portraits of President Rodrigo Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the National Monument in Indonesia
FALSE: Malunggay and kamias tea cure for COVID-19
While some home remedies may alleviate symptoms of COVID-19, WHO says there is still no registered cure for the disease as of May 29
PARTLY FALSE: First Philippine Holdings 'made P24.6B profit, but only paid P10M income tax'
The P10 million that First Philippine Holdings Corporation paid in income tax is part of a total of P5.175 billion in income taxes that the company and its subsidiaries paid in 2019
FALSE: Richard Gomez won’t accept returnees to Ormoc City
The President says in a late night address that Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez would not accept returning residents in Ormoc City. Gomez never said this.
FALSE: ABS-CBN’s 1995 franchise allows only one channel
(UPDATED) Nothing in ABS-CBN’s 1995 franchise says that it allows the broadcast of only one channel
PARTLY FALSE: COVID-19 is thrombosis, not pneumonia
Multiple studies show that among the complications caused by COVID-19 is clotting of the blood. But not all COVID-19 patients exhibit this.
PARTLY FALSE: Gabby Lopez is an American citizen
Lopez is a dual citizen – he is Filipino because he was born to Filipino parents, and is also an American because he was born in the US
FALSE: 'Flying insects' kill people in China, India, Iran
The photos attached in this claim were taken from footage of a gas leak in India
FALSE: COVID-19 is bacteria, can be cured by aspirin
COVID-19 is caused by a virus. The Italian Medicines Agency also does not include aspirin in its list of drugs made available for COVID-19 patients.
FALSE: Coco Martin quote on a teacher's arrest
Actor Coco Martin did not say this quote. The graphic was manipulated from an ABS-CBN News quote card.
FALSE: Video of Wuhan, China in ‘2nd wave’ of coronavirus infections
The footage is old and appeared as early as February 2020. Reports said the bodies in the video died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
FALSE: Madagascar President says WHO offered $20M to poison virus cure
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina did not make this accusation
