A graphic posted on Facebook is claiming that Sen. Risa Hontiveros cited a finding from a survey on early 2028 presidential preference as the cause of the online death threats she received recently. This is not true.
First published by an FB page on July 24, the graphic bore a photo of Hontiveros and a text that read:
“RISA HONTIVEROS MAY NAGBANTA DAW SA KANYANG BUHAY MATAPOS MAKAKUHA NG 0.01% SA SURVEY (Hontiveros claims someone allegedly threatened her life after receiving 0.01% result in a survey.)”
Two users reposted the graphic, with one saying the senator is “hallucinating.” The other netizen used “#PhilippineNews” in its post, giving the impression that it is legitimate information.
Hontiveros shared in a July 23 statement that she started receiving death threats after the July 17 killing of pro-administration vlogger Alicia Lipata, known as Mima Alicia on social media.
“Instead of expressing sympathy, some are celebrating in the midst of death and even inciting violence,” she said in Filipino, noting that many netizens have “openly threatened” that she will be “the next one.”
Condemning what she described as a “wave of death threats and pro-killing comments,” she said that her office has submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation the names and screenshots of “hundreds of [FB] users” who posted death threats against her.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said in a July 28 interview with reporters that they have identified a “group chat” involving the persons of interest in the death threats directed at Hontiveros. He added that subpoenas may be issued against them as part of the NBI Cybercrime Division’s ongoing probe.
While the poll result cited in spurious claims is authentic, Hontiveros did not mention it in the context of online death threats against her. Based on the pre-2028 elections survey published by Pulse Asia on July 22, under the “unaided” and “others” responses, 0.01% of respondents said they will vote for the lady senator as president if the May 2028 elections were held today and she is among the candidates.
The fraudulent posts surfaced a day after Hontiveros publicized the death threats against her online and called on social media platforms and law enforcement to “act decisively against this culture of impunity online.” On July 20, she visited Lipata’s wake and offered sympathies to her bereaved family.
At least three posts carrying the made-up claims, including the original copy by FB page Filipino Community (created on July 12, 2020), collectively garnered over 23,900 reactions; 2,100 comments and 356 shares as of writing.
