A post featuring a photo of Senators Pia and Alan Peter Cayetano at an airport is claiming the siblings are fleeing the country. This photo is not new and has been uploaded online since July.
On August 19, a Facebook user uploaded the photo of the Cayetanos showing Alan Peter carrying luggage and Pia holding her passport. The post bore the caption:
“Minority senators accused of fleeing the country amid corruption allegations.
BREAKING! DID THEY ALSO LEFT (sic) THE COUNTRY? SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. BUT IF MINORITY SENATORS ARE LEAVING THE COUNTRY IN HASTE THEY’RE GUILTY. SEEMS THESE GUYS ARE AFRAID TO FACE THE MUSIC. ITS (sic) COMING BY THE WAVES. WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT. PRISON TIME FOR MONIES CORRUPTED FROM THE PEOPLE. FUNDS FOR PUBLIC SERVICES WENT DIRECTLY TO THEIR PERSONAL ACCOUNTS. MGA MAGNANAKAW (THIEVES).”
Netizens in the comment section criticized the senators, while some users asked if the photo is legitimate.
This post is false. The photo is a screenshot from a video of the siblings inside an airport that was first uploaded in July.
On July 19, an FB user posted a 14-second video (see archive here) showing the siblings inside an airport. The original video carried the caption:
“Abay nakita ko PA nga ang aking idol eh SP SEN. ALLAN (sic) AND PIA CAYETANO (I even saw my idols Senators Alan and Pia Cayetano).”
A screenshot was taken from this video and later on enhanced.
The siblings attended Senate sessions and were active on their official social media accounts after the original video’s posting.
They were also present at the Aug. 19 Senate session, disproving the claim they have left the country. Prior to this, since Aug. 11, the former senate president has been absent from the plenary sessions and Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
The false video circulated a day after the Senate confirmed that Sen. Loren Legarda, who is currently in France, has extended her medical leave from Aug. 17 to 19. The Office of the Ombudsman is currently investigating Legarda and her son Rep. Leandro Leviste over alleged irregularities in their solar energy projects.
VERA Files has debunked other misinformation about the Cayetano siblings.
The post uploaded by a FB user has so far garnered 1,500 reactions, 615 comments and 278 shares.
