At least three Facebook posts claim that Cagayan de Oro Rep. Lordan Suan has added ₱10 million to the government’s ₱50-million reward for information leading to the capture of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. This claim is fake.
The first post published on Oct. 27 contains a graphic that features a photo of Suan and dela Rosa, with this text:
“NEWS
REP. LORD SUAN OFFERS AN ADDITIONAL P10 MILLION FOR SEN. BATO DELA ROSA’S CAPTURE.”
The accompanying caption frames the claim as an official news update:
“𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 | Rep. Lordan Suan nag alok ng karagdagang ₱10 milyong pabuya para sa paghuli kay Senador Bato dela Rosa, dahilan upang umabot na sa 60 milyon ang kabuuang bounty ngayon.
SOURCE: GOLD STAR DAILY NEWS
(𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 | Rep. Lordan Suan offers an additional ₱10 million reward for Senator Bato dela Rosa’s capture, making the total amount of the bounty 60 million as of now.
SOURCE: GOLD STAR DAILY NEWS)”
The legislator has made no such action or public statement confirming that he added the said amount to the original bounty.
The original ₱50-million bounty for the senator was announced by Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla on Oct. 23, during a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City. Remulla said the government was offering the reward money for information that would lead to dela Rosa’s capture, describing the senator as “armed and dangerous.”
The announcement came amid efforts by authorities to locate dela Rosa, who had been out of public view since leaving the Senate premises on May 14, following reports of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him.
Additionally, the Facebook page using the name Gold Star Daily News was deleted as of writing. It is also not a verified page of the legitimate Mindanao Gold Star Daily. The established regional newspaper has previously reported cases of fake Facebook pages impersonating its publication.
The fake post surfaced as the Philippine National Police intensified its manhunt for dela Rosa following the announcement of a P50-million reward for the senator’s capture.
Posted by a Facebook user and two pages, the posts have so far collectively garnered 2,566 reactions; 1,417 comments; and 104 shares.
