Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The video containing the claim was posted on March 6 by a YouTube channel with 172,000 subscribers. As of writing, it has 38,547 views, 1,000 likes, and 419 comments. 

The thumbnail and title of the video bear the claim: “Kakapasok lang! 12k ayuda buwanan na ang payout para sa mga senior citizen, sa wakas sasaya na kayo” (Just in! 12k monthly payouts for senior citizens, you will finally be happy).

The facts: In a public advisory on March 10, the DSWD clarified that it has no program offering P12,000 aid to senior citizens as claimed in the video. Furthermore, only indigent senior citizens can receive a monthly social pension based on Republic Act 11916, or the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Act. Contrary to the claim, however, they will receive P1,000 monthly, not P12,000.

The video featured audio from an interview with Senator Imee Marcos on Vanguard Radio Network’s Balita Alas Sieto program. While Marcos talked about the social pension, there was no mention of a P12,000 monthly pension for all senior citizens.

Pension for indigent seniors:  Republic Act 11916 doubles the monthly social pension for indigent seniors from P500 to P1,000 to support their daily needs and medical expenses. While it lapsed into law in 2022, its implementation began in 2024, with the Caraga Region beginning the payouts in January.

The DSWD has an allocation of P49.81 billion in the 2024 national budget to support over four million indigent senior citizens nationwide with a doubled pension.

DSWD support: The DSWD said it provides additional support to elderly individuals struggling with daily expenses through its existing program Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS). The program aims to help meet the needs of individuals or families experiencing crisis by providing support to cover transportation, funeral, medical, food, and education expenses, among others.

Individuals seeking cash assistance and other forms of aid are required to submit necessary documents directly to the nearest DSWD office. AICS does not provide an online application form. The amount of assistance granted to individuals varies and is determined through a screening process conducted by social workers.

Official news: For official updates on the social pension for indigent senior citizens and DSWD programs and services, refer to the official DSWD website and its social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. – Chinie Ann Jocel R. Mendoza/Rappler.com

Chinie Ann Jocel R. Mendoza is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in a YouTube video posted on March 9 that has 38,668 views and 455 likes as of writing.

The video is titled: “Breaking news! China, nagpadala na ng fighter jets sa West PH Sea! Umaatake na! Simula na ang WW3.” (Breaking news! China has deployed fighter jets to the West Philippine Sea! It is now attacking! [World War 3] has started!) 

The claim comes as tensions between Manila and Beijing have been rekindled due to continuing Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

The bottom line: No reputable sources have reported on China’s alleged deployment of fighter jets to the West Philippine Sea. There have been no reports from the Philippine Navy via their official Facebook page, X (formerly Twitter) page, and website, nor from the Department of National Defense about the claim.

Outdated report: The misleading video featured photos of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accompanied by audio from a news report. The report discussed senators’ concerns over an alleged threat of war made by Chinese President Xi Jinping if the Philippines continued to insist on the 2016 arbitral ruling invalidating China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea.

The video made it seem as if the alleged threat was made recently, but a closer listen to the audio shows that it made references to former senator Bam Aquino and former president Rodrigo Duterte. The original audio came from a UNTV news report from May 22, 2017.

Current tensions: The claim was posted amid ongoing tensions between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea. On March 5, four Filipinos onboard the Unaizah Mae 4 sustained “minor injuries” after two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels used water cannons against the Philippine vessel. The water cannons also shattered the boat’s windshield.

In a separate incident, a CCG vessel collided with the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Sindangan during the latest resupply mission to the grounded ship BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippines’ outpost in Ayungin Shoal. 

“Throughout the operation, the PCG vessels faced dangerous maneuvers and blocking from Chinese Coast Guard vessels and Chinese Maritime Militia. Their reckless and illegal actions led to a collision between MRRV-4407 and China Coast Guard 21555 that resulted [in] minor structural damage to the PCG vessel,” PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Chinese jets spotted: In November 2023, two Chinese fighter jets were seen hovering above Philippine planes during a joint air patrol between the Philippines and Australia in the West Philippine Sea. 

Chinese vessels also shadowed Philippine and Australian ships during joint maritime patrols in the area, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. – Katarina Ruflo/Rappler.com

Katarina Ruflo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The video bearing the claim was posted on February 25 by a YouTube channel with over 632,000 subscribers. As of writing, the video has garnered 4,387 views and 95 likes.

The title and thumbnail of the video bears the claim, with text on the thumbnail stating: “ICC may desisyon na! Duterte, guilty!” (ICC has already made a decision! Duterte, guilty!)

The facts: Contrary to the claim, Duterte has not been found guilty of the charges against him, nor has he been acquitted. The ICC has not issued any official decision or announcement on its website regarding its investigation of the human rights abuses committed during the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs. 

The video did not provide any evidence to back up its claim that a verdict has already been reached. Instead, it merely featured audio of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque calling on the current Marcos administration to put in writing the Philippines’ non-cooperation with the ICC on its ongoing probe.

The posting of the misleading video coincides with recent opinion polls that showed growing public support for the Netherlands-based tribunal’s investigation. A Social Weather Stations poll conducted in December 2023 and released in February 2024 indicated that 53% of Filipinos approve of the probe, while 56% agree that the Philippine government should allow the ICC investigation. Similarly, a December 2023 OCTA Research poll, released in February 2024, showed that 59% of Filipinos support the Philippines rejoining the ICC.

ICC investigation: In 2018, then-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opened a preliminary examination into the drug war killings. Under the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs” campaign, at least 6,252 individuals were killed in police operations as of May 2022, while human rights groups estimate that between 27,000 to 30,000 people were killed in vigilante-style executions. 

In 2021, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor formally requested authorization from the court’s pre-trial chamber (PTC) to open a full investigation. In September that year, the PTC granted the request to look into Duterte’s drug war and killings by the so-called Davao Death Squad between 2011 and 2016.

In November 2021, the ICC temporarily suspended its investigation to consider the Philippines’ request to defer to the Philippine government in conducting the probe. The ICC resumed its probe in July 2023 after dismissing the Philippine government’s request and appeal. (TIMELINE: The International Criminal Court and Duterte’s bloody war on drugs)

Non-cooperation with ICC: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said his government will not cooperate with the ICC probe. This stance was further emphasized by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla who “firmly asserted” the ICC’s lack of jurisdiction over the Philippines. (TIMELINE: What the Marcos administration says about the International Criminal Court) 

Amid growing support for the probe and calls for the Philippine government to cooperate with the ICC, the President reiterated his concerns about the investigation, stating on February 20 that it “opens a Pandora’s box.” Marcos said “sufficient answers” to the questions regarding “jurisdiction and sovereignty” are still needed.  

Rappler has debunked similar false claims on the ICC issuing a verdict and summons related to the drug war killings. – Marie Flor Cabarrubias/Rappler.com

Marie Flor Cabarrubias is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

RATING: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: A YouTube channel with 384,000 subscribers posted a video on February 28, which has gained 994 likes, 37,430 views, and 227 comments as of writing. 

The video’s title and thumbnail bore the text “Pinalayas na China!” (China has been sent away!) and references implying Marcos ordered military deployment to deter Chinese presence in the West Philippine Sea. 

The video was posted following reports of Chinese warships spotted near Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Panatag or Scarborough Shoal, in late February.

The facts: Marcos made no statement ordering China to leave the West Philippine Sea. The interview clip seen in the video was from Marcos’ interview on February 28 before his two-day state visit to Australia. Marcos told reporters: “It’s worrisome because there are two elements to that. One, dati Coast Guard lang ng China ang gumagalaw doon sa area natin, ngayon may Navy na, sumama pa mga fishing boat. So nagbabago ang sitwasyon.” (Before, it was just the Chinese Coast Guard moving in our area, now it’s the Navy along with fishing boats. So the situation has changed.)

In the President’s remarks, there was no explicit order for China to leave. He went on to affirm the government’s commitment to defend the country’s sovereignty and protect its fisherfolk.

Chinese presence: Marcos’ statement comes after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on February 27 that it monitored the presence of at least three People’s Liberation Army navy warships in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc during a mission of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela added that the BFAR also spotted a Chinese aircraft patrolling over the airspace of Bajo de Masinloc.

Earlier on February 25, the PCG said the China Coast Guard (CCG) blocked the BFAR vessel BRP Datu Sanday en route to Bajo de Masinloc to distribute fuel aid to Filipino fishermen. The CCG also jammed the automatic identification system (AIS) signal of BRP Datu Sanday, according to Tarriela. The PCG spokesperson added that this is not the first time that the CCG allegedly blocked a Philippine vessel’s AIS signal.

Maritime tensions: China’s assertive maritime actions have heightened tensions with the Philippines. In recent months, there have been reports of Chinese harassment against Filipino fishermen collecting sea shells near Bajo de Masinloc and several water cannon incidents. The latest incidents at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea earlier this March involved a collision between Philippine and Chinese vessels, while a separate water cannon incident injured at least four Filipinos.

In July 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines’ challenge against China’s expansive territorial claims. Despite this, China refuses to accept the ruling and continues to assert its claims using its “nine-dash line” encompassing a significant portion of the South China Sea.

Marcos has previously emphasized the need for a calibrated response to ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. He has also highlighted developments in the South China Sea in his foreign trips with key allies. In a speech to the Australian Partliament on February 29 Marcos thanked Australia for adhering to international rules-based order, adding: “We have an abiding interest in keeping our seas free and open and in ensuring unimpeded passage and freedom of navigation.” – Rappler.com

This fact check was written by a group of students under the Social Media and Dynamics class of Professor Patrick Ernest Celso from the University of Santo Tomas. It was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. 

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim can be found in a March 9 post on the Facebook account of former broadcaster Jay Sonza, which garnered around 3,100 reactions, 391 comments, and 275 shares as of writing. 

The post says the following about EDCA sites: “Si Apo Bonget [referring to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] kasi, imbes na manatiling walang pinapanigan ay pinili nitong magpauto kay ulyaning Joe Biden at halos ipamigay ng libre ang may 19 na EDCA sites at maging aso ng America sa South China Seas.”

(Apo Bonget, instead of remaining neutral, chose to be fooled by the senile Joe Biden and almost gave away for free 19 EDCA sites and became a US lapdog in the South China Sea.)

A similar claim of there being 19 EDCA sites in the Philippines can also be found in a March 7 post on X (formerly Twitter).

The facts: There are currently only nine EDCA sites in the country as of writing, not 19.

The five original EDCA sites agreed upon in March 2016 are the following:

• Antonio Bautista Air Base (Palawan)
• Basa Air Base (Pampanga)
• Fort Magsaysay (Nueva Ecija)
• Lumbia Air Base (Cagayan de Oro)
• Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base (Cebu)

On April 3, 2023, four more EDCA sites were added, bringing the total to nine. These are:

• Naval Base Camilo Osias (Santa Ana, Cagayan)
• Lal-lo Airport (Cagayan)
• Camp Melchor Dela Cruz (Gamu, Isabela)
• Balabac Island (Palawan)

Since then, there have been no further reports about additional confirmed EDCA sites. 

Defense cooperation: The Philippines and the US signed EDCA in 2014, which allows the US to preposition defense assets and construct facilities in local bases. The deal, however, does not allow the US to construct a permanent base in the Philippines. (READ: What you should know about the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) 

The two countries identified the five military bases under EDCA in 2016. In February 2023, Manila and Washington announced their decision to expand EDCA areas after earlier agreeing to strengthen military ties amid rising tensions with China.

In a statement in April 2023, the US said the additional four EDCA sites “will strengthen the interoperability of the United States and Philippine armed forces.” The Philippines’ defense department also said the new EDCA sites aim to strengthen the country’s defense and maritime security.

Previous related fact-checks: Rappler has fact-checked false claims about EDCA: 

• FACT CHECK: US military won’t revive Subic naval base under EDCA (June 6, 2023)
• FACT CHECK: Pag-Asa Island won’t be used as PH-US military base (February 13, 2023)
• FACT CHECK: Was EDCA not signed by Aquino? (October 4, 2016)

Rappler has also fact-checked several false claims from Sonza since 2018. – Percival Bueser/ Rappler.com 

Percival Bueser is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: A document labeled “Proclamation No. 729” which bears the claim is circulating across social media.

Allegedly approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on February 28, the document declares March 11 a regular holiday throughout the country to “bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness, and to allow the entire Filipino nation to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Fitr.”

The signature of former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea also appears on the document.

On Facebook, some users said in the comment section of a post that March 11 is a holiday because it is marked with the color “red” in the calendar.  The “memorandum” also made users on Tiktok believe the date was a holiday. 

The facts: The list of 2024 holidays in the Philippines released by Malacañang through Proclamation No. 368 does not include March 11 either as a regular holiday nor a special day. (READ: LIST: Philippine holidays in 2024)

There is also no “Proclamation No. 729” released in 2024 on the Official Gazette’s website. As of writing, the most recent presidential proclamation is Proclamation No. 487. 

Fake details: The Official Gazette said in a post that the circulating document is “spurious” and that it is “a tampered version” of Proclamation No. 729, s. 2019, which was issued by the previous administration. The mentioned original document is for the declaration of June 5, 2019, as a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Fitr, signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Additionally, Salvador Medialdea, who appears to sign the document on behalf of the President, is not the current executive secretary. Lucas Bersamin holds the position under the Marcos administration, not Medialdea. 

Misleading dates: The document falsely identifies March 11, 2024, as the observance of Eid’l Fitr. (FAST FACTS: What you should know about Eid al-Fitr, end of Ramadan)

According to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs, March 11 or 12 is the start of the celebration of the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims fast from food, water, and sexual activity from sunrise to sunset.

“If the New Moon is sighted during the moon-sighting (Niyata) on March 10, 2024, as enjoined by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the fasting month of Ramadan will start the following day, March 11, 2024. If not sighted, fasting will start the next day, March 12, 2024,” said the NCMF in its Ramadan calendar.

“Another moon-sighting activity will be conducted on the 29th day of Ramadan to determine the end of Ramadan fasting and observance of Eid’l Fitr,” it added.

Eid’l Fitr, which marks the end of the month-long Ramadan, is observed on different dates each year, depending on the sighting of the new moon in the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. The presidential proclamation declaring a national holiday for the observance of this celebration will follow once the NCMF recommends to the Office of the President its date, based on moon-sighting activities.

Official accounts: For official updates regarding proclamations, memoranda, and orders by the President, refer to the Official Gazette’s official website and Facebook page. –  Larry Chavez/Rappler.com

Larry Chavez is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: A user on X (formerly Twitter) posted a screen-grabbed photo that allegedly showed an aerial view of the crowd attending the prayer rally at the South Road Properties in Cebu City.

The caption of the post says: “Nilangaw dw yung Cebu prayer rally, sbi ng mga paid trolls at utong supporters ni bangag Marcos Jr, ano twag nyo dto? Surely, yung pagkatao nyo, hindi lang nilalangaw, inuuod na!”

([If the] Cebu prayer rally flopped, as paid trolls and supporters of a “high” Marcos Jr. say, [then] what do you call this? Surely, your personality is not only infested but rotting as well!)

As of writing, the post has garnered 53,000 views, 356 likes, 64 combined reposts and retweets, and 118 replies. 

The facts: Searching the keywords “Planetshakers in Cebu,” Rappler found that the supposed screen-grabbed photo of the crowd shows concertgoers of the worship music band, not attendees of the Duterte prayer rally.

The photo was taken from aerial footage of a crowd filmed during the Planetshakers’ “Show Me Your Glory” event at SM Seaside Cebu concert grounds on February 23.

The original video was uploaded as a Facebook reel on the page “Cebu ni bai” two days before the Duterte prayer rally. The author clearly states in the caption that the drone footage was taken during the Planetshakers live in Cebu event.

The screen-grabbed photo in the misleading X post even showed the original video’s caption with the text “Planetshakers live in Cebu.”

Cebu prayer rally: Following a protest rally held in Davao City last January, Duterte supporters held another prayer rally in Cebu City on February 25 to call for transparency and accountability from the current Marcos administration over “signature-buying” allegations related to the people’s initiative campaign to amend the Constitution. 

In a press briefing in Camp Crame on February 26, Philippine National Police chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said that while 40,000 attendees were anticipated to participate in the Cebu prayer rally, only an estimated 5,000 people went to the event. – Larry Chavez/Rappler.com

Larry Chavez is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in a YouTube video that has garnered 8,991 views, 440 likes, and 61 comments as of writing. 

At the 3:42 mark of the video, the narrator says: “Ngunit sa aking inaakala, hindi ito basta basta isang shutdown, dahil hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin naglalabas ang Meta patungkol sa ano talaga ang rason kung bakit nangyari ito. Ngunit para sa akin, ito’y parang may kinalaman sa nangyari nito-nito lamang linggo, na ang pinaka malakas sa solar flare sa loob ng anim na taon ay nangyari sa ating planeta.” 

(In my view, this was not just any shutdown because until now Meta has not explained the cause of the outage. To me, it seems to have something to do with what happened just this week, when the strongest solar flare in six years happened on our planet.)

The bottom line: The outage of Meta’s social media platforms was caused by “technical issues,” according to Meta Communications Director Andy Stone in an X (formerly Twitter) post on March 6. 

“Earlier today, a technical issue caused people to have difficulty accessing some of our services. We resolved the issue as quickly as possible for everyone who was impacted, and we apologize for any inconvenience,” the post said.

The outage lasted for over two hours and affected 550,000 Facebook users and about 92,000 Instagram users at its peak. There have been no reports from reputable sources that stated that a solar flare or solar superstorm had anything to do with the almost two-hour-long outage. 

Meta’s services also previously suffered a prolonged disruption in 2021, when Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp were down for more than six hours. At the time, the outage was caused by “configuration changes on backbone routers.” 

Solar storms explained: Solar magnetic storms, also known as coronal mass ejections, occur when the sun releases bursts of plasma. The strongest flares, when directed at the Earth, can disrupt satellites, communication systems, and even power grids. Solar activity is at its peak during a period known as the solar maximum. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Space Weather Prediction Center, the sun will reach its peak activity between January and October 2024, in the 25th solar cycle. 

Recent solar activity: Two major solar flares occurred earlier this year. The flares erupted from the sun beginning in the late afternoon of February 21 until February 22. The levels of the flares reached an R3 (Strong) rating, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

In a post on February 26, NOAA said: “While solar flares can affect communication systems, radar, and the Global Positioning System, based on the intensity of the eruption and associated phenomena, it is highly unlikely that these flares contributed to the widely reported cellular network outages.”

However, the February 21 and 22 solar flares had nothing to do with the Meta outage that occurred on March 5.

Solar flares can reach Earth in minutes while its accompanying coronal mass ejections (CMEs) usually take at least a day to reach the planet, a Washington Post article said. Both solar flares and CMEs can affect communication systems here on Earth.

Rappler has debunked a similar claim from the same user that a solar superstorm would cause a global internet shutdown in 2024. – Katarina Ruflo/Rappler.com

Katarina Ruflo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in a YouTube video posted on February 25 that has garnered 5,400 views, 1578likes, and 5 comments as of writing. 

The title of the YouTube video states: “Binibili ng Pilipinas ang pinakamalaki at pinakakumpletong barkong pandigma mula sa Germany.” (The Philippines is buying the largest and most complete warship from Germany.)

No official announcements: There have been no official announcements from any reputable sources regarding the Philippine Navy’s purchase of “the largest and most complete warship” from Germany. There are no reports from the Philippine Navy on its official website, Facebook page, and X (formerly Twitter) page. Likewise, there was no mention of the supposed acquisition from the German embassy in Manila and the defense departments of the Philippines and Germany.

In service with the German Navy: The video does not name the supposed warship acquired by the Philippines, nor does it provide other details about the alleged deal. It merely shows clips of German ships that are currently still in service with the German Navy, such as the F 263 FGS Oldenburg, a Braunschweig class corvette that was commissioned on January 21, 2013. 

Donations and purchases from Germany: The Philippine Navy currently has some vessels and equipment that were either donated by the German government or commissioned from German manufacturers. In March 2023, the Philippine Navy tested its newly-acquired Bullfighter Chaff Decoys that were installed on the BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF151). The Bullfighter was manufactured by the German company Rheinmetall and is a countermeasure system designed to deflect enemy missiles from their targets. 

Early this year, Germany also pledged to donate additional surveillance drones to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to support its operations in the West Philippine Sea amid ongoing maritime tensions with China. Berlin previously donated two Trinity F90+ drones to the PCG in 2022. The drones are able to provide high quality imagery and maps for reconnaissance and surveillance. 

No new purchases: As of writing, there are no reports of the Philippines purchasing warships or other artillery from Germany. Rappler had debunked a similar claim that the Philippines purchased its “largest and most technologically advanced warship to date” from Turkey. – Katarina Ruflo/Rappler.com

Katarina Ruflo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: A YouTube video posted on March 3 cites former broadcaster and SMNI consultant Jay Sonza as a source for the claim. As of writing, it has 5,600 views and 266 likes.

The video was posted amid the ongoing Senate inquiry headed by Hontiveros on the alleged abuses committed by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) led by Davao-based preacher Apollo Quiboloy.

The bottom line: Hontiveros was not part of the P15-billion corruption scandal as it took place in 2019, long after Hontiveros stepped down from her post as a Philhealth board member.

Hontiveros served as a board member of the state insurer from November 2014 to October 15. She took her oath of office in June 2015 and resigned the same year for her 2016 senatorial bid. It was in 2020 when former PhilHealth anti-fraud officer Thorrsson Montes Keith revealed that Philhealth executives pocketed and misspent P15 billion through fraudulent schemes in 2019. (READ: Corruption, controversies faced by PhilHealth)

Not part of PhilHealth ‘mafia’: In a 2020 interview on Super Radyo DZBB, Hontiveros herself denied involvement in the controversy amid rumors that she was part of the “mafia” running the illegal activities within Philhealth.

The senator was also not among the Philhealth executives named by Keith as the ringleaders of a “syndicate” within the state insurer.

In a statement in 2020, PhilHealth denied Keith’s claims and said that the funds in question were disbursed to 711 healthcare facilities for COVID-19 response and were not pocketed by its officials.

Old claim: Rappler and VERA Files have already debunked claims that Hontiveros stole P15 billion from PhilHealth. Since 2018, the senator has also been repeatedly falsely linked to other controversies, such as her supposed involvement in PhilHealth’s illegal bonus anomalies in 2013 and 2014.

Quiboloy issue: The false claim surfaced amid the ongoing Senate probe into human trafficking and abuses supposedly committed by Quiboloy and KOJC. Hontiveros, head of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, has been leading the hearings since January.

On March 5, the Senate panel cited Quiboloy in contempt after the preacher continued to snub the hearings despite a subpoena. Hontiveros also asked Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to order Quiboloy’s arrest so he could testify before the committee.

Dubious source: The cited source of the claim, Sonza, has already been fact-checked for spreading dubious claims about Martial Law, COVID-19 coverage, and Rappler.

Rappler has published multiple fact-checks debunking false claims about Hontiveros:

• Napabulaanan na ang pagkakasangkot ni Hontiveros sa mga anomalya sa PhilHealth
• FACT CHECK: Hontiveros not expelled from Senate over ICC probe resolution
• FACT CHECK: Hontiveros did not order subpoena for Sara Duterte
• FACT CHECK: Hindi sangkot si Hontiveros sa anomalya sa bonus ng PhilHealth

– Kyle Marcelino/Rappler.com

Kyle Marcelino is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.