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FACT CHECK

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Online post MISLEADS with rehashed story on House’s investigation of FVR over land lease deal

Website newsinsiderph.info published June 10 a misleading story that recycles an outdated news item on the House of Representatives’ investigation of former President Fidel V. Ramos for a suspicious government land lease deal signed under his term.

It was in March when news came out that Ramos was being summoned to a hearing on the thousand-peso-per-annum, 50-year lease of a P7.5 billion, five hectare property of the Department of Trade and Industry, rendering misleading the headline “FINALLY ITO NA! FIDEL RAMOS PINAIIMBESTIGAHAN DAHIL SA PHP 1000 NA RENTA SA MAHIGIT P7.5 BILLION LIMANG HEKTARYANG LUPAIN NG GOBYERNO SA ROXAS BOULEVARD, MANILA (Finally this is it! Fidel Ramos to be investigated on PHP 1000 rent of P7.5 billion 5-hectare government land on Roxas Boulevard, Manila).”

The recycled story is also used by some social media pages to antagonize Vice President Leni Robredo, connecting her to the dubious deal, which was entered into in 1996.

Facebook pages President Rody Duterte -Federal Movement International, Tatay Digong Totoong Pagbabago and Duterte News Trends shared June 10 and 11 the story, which could have reached over 1.1 million people, with the caption:

BREAKING NEWS: VP LENI ROBREDO MAY NAKATAGONG ARI-ARIAN Sa wakas nabuking na din ang kabulastugang gawain ni dating pangulong Fidel V. Ramos at pinaiimbestigahan ngayon dahil sa P1000 na renta sa mahigit P7.5 BILLION limang hektarayang lupain na pag-aari ng gobyerno sa Roxas Boulevard Manila ✋