Netizens are circulating a quote card of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada supposedly calling a dismissed district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways “a boy in a man’s world.” This is fabricated.
On Sept. 17, Facebook users and pages posted a quote card of Estrada supposedly addressing the corruption allegations thrown against him by ex-DPWH Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez. The graphic bore the logo of the news organization Inquirer.net, images of Hernandez and Estrada and the senator’s supposed Sept. 16 remark. Several copies of the graphic were also shared on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
Estrada was quoted as saying:
“Engr. Brice Hernandez, I want you to remember one thing. You’re a boy in a man’s world. And I’m a man who loves to play with boys.”
He did not make such a remark. This is fabricated.
The quote was actually a line from American wrestler Kurt Angle during a match with Rey Mysterio.
Estrada did not issue such a statement or make any reference to the quote during any of the hearings on the government’s anomalous flood control projects. The senator also did not speak in any of the Senate committee hearings on Sept. 16, nor at the plenary session that day.
A review of Estrada’s official social media channels also does not show any statement from him on Sept. 16.
Inquirer.net has issued an advisory disowning the quote card, calling it fake and warning users of fabricated content imitating their brand.
The graphic bore the text “NMPW,” referring to the FB group New Malacañang Pro-Wrestling, further indicating its source. The FB group posts politics and wrestling-related memes.
While some netizens took it as a joke, others who were unfamiliar with the wrestler believed the statement to be true. Some netizens even insinuated that Estrada and Hernandez must have had a romantic relationship.
The fake quote card circulated more than a week after Hernandez implicated Estrada in the flood control controversy during a Sept. 9 House hearing. Hernandez alleged that Estrada and Sen. Joel Villanueva received 30% kickbacks from the flood control projects, which the senators have vehemently denied.
Estrada confronted Hernandez during the Sept. 18 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee about the allegation. Hernandez was not able to show proof that Estrada had a Senate staff named “Beng Ramos,” who was supposedly in contact with a contractor who delivered “obligations” or money to the senator. Estrada maintained that Ramos was not his staff. However, it appeared that a “Beng Ramos” (Divina Gracia V. Ramos) is employed in the Office of the Secretary, particularly under the Blue Ribbon Oversight Office Management.
VERA Files has debunked other disinformation related to the flood control issue.
At least 10 posts by FB users and pages collectively garnered 1,140 reactions, 163 comments and 62 shares.
