Posts on Facebook (FB) and Threads falsely claimed that former Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV will be appointed as the new secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
As early as May 16, an FB page published a photo of Trillanes, bearing the following text:
“Trillanes to be appointed as DILG secretary?”
The caption of the post also read:
“Why not? Over qualified diyan si Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV! Tama yan para matakot ang mga kurap na LGU at Barangay Officials!”
(Why not? Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV is overqualified for the job. It’s just right, so corrupt [local government] and barangay officials will be afraid.)
Meanwhile, a reel posted on May 20 compiled photos of Trillanes into a montage, with a text saying:
“Congratulations Sir Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes, Our new DILG Sec.”
These are all false. Neither the DILG nor the Office of the President announced a new appointment for an Interior and Local Government Secretary.
And with Trillanes having just lost the Caloocan mayoralty race in the recently concluded midterm elections, he is banned by law from holding any government position for a year.
This is according to Article IX-B, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that:
“No candidate who has lost in any election shall, within one year after such election, be appointed to any office in the Government or any government-owned or controlled corporations or in any of their subsidiaries.”
The Local Government Code echoed the same policy, adding that the only exceptions to the prohibition are losing candidates in the barangay elections.
As of writing, Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla remains the DILG secretary. He formally assumed office in October 2024 after his predecessor Benhur Abalos resigned to run for a seat in the Senate.
The erroneous claims circulated on social media a few days after the May 12 midterm elections.
Published by various FB users and pages ANG BAYAN KO (created Aug. 3, 2021) and News Truth (Sept. 18, 2024), the posts accumulated around 3,710 reactions, 6700 comments and 3129 shares.
Meanwhile, the post on Threads garnered 2,400 likes, 1,200 comments, 38 reposts and 100 shares.
