đˇMark Lopez | FB
Vlogger Mark Anthony Lopez on Friday, March 21, admitted to fabricating a viral claim about the Philippines deploying water cannons against China in the West Philippine Sea.
The admission came after Abang Lingkod Partylist Representative Stephen Paduano pressed Lopez to clarify his viral claim, which sparked widespread online discussion.
During the tri-committee investigation by the House of Representatives, Paduano questioned the validity of Lopezâs claim and demanded evidence to support the sensational story. Lopez conceded that his statement was false.
Lopez then issued an apology to the members of the House, acknowledging his role in spreading misinformation.
âSige po, mag-apologize po ako. Sige po, fake news po ako,â Lopez said.
Other social media influencers such as Mary Jane Quiambao-Reyes and Krizette Laureta Chu also issued apologies for sharing unverified posts during the same hearing.
Paduano pressed Quiambao-Reyes about her post asserting that extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the war on drugs were a hoax. He demanded to know if she had any documents or evidence to back up her claim, putting her on the spot during the hearing.
Meanwhile, Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre confronted Chu over a recent Facebook post regarding the resignation of police officers following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Acidre challenged Chu to reveal her source, prompting her to admit that her claim was based on unverified TikTok posts.
Chu defended herself by stating that she used the word âdawâ to indicate uncertainty. However, Acidre countered that professional journalists do not rely on âgeneral impressionsâ and are obligated to verify their information before publishing, emphasizing the importance of accountability in public discourse.
Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante, who heads the House Committee on Human Rights, criticized Chu for her social media posts, which contained unverified and misleading claims. Chu, who was seen as pro-Duterte, faced scrutiny during the hearing.
Abante called for an apology after Chu acknowledged that her statements were based solely on news reports and lacked supporting documents.
âKaya tinatanong kita kung saan mo kinuha. Sinabi mo sa news mo lang pala kinuha, eh wala kang documents! You cannot even tell me if youâre telling facts or truths. Ibig mong sabihin, youâre going to base your statement â tanga ang gobyerno â sa news na nabasa mo?â Abante told Chu.
âI will apologize, Mr. Chair, for my bad words. I apologize for saying âtangaâ in my post,â Chu said in response.
Acidre warned that spreading unverified information, especially about law enforcement and national security, has serious consequences. (TCSP)
