A viral graphic circulating on Facebook falsely claims that former senator Antonio Trillanes IV presented a wig supposedly used by Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa “to escape,” and that it would be used as evidence. This is satire.
The image itself contains the disclaimer “Satire News Only” at the lower-right corner, indicating that the content was not intended to be factual.
First posted on May 16 by an FB page, the image carried the headline:
“TRILLANES, IPINAKITA ANG GINAMIT NI BATO PARA MAKATAKAS. GAGAMITIN ITO BILANG EBIDENSYA!”
(TRILLANES SHOWS WHAT BATO USED TO ESCAPE. THIS WILL BE USED AS EVIDENCE!”
In the post’s caption, the word satire was used twice, first as a hashtag and second, in a disclaimer.
Despite the label, netizens were still misled into believing the claim was true, leaving comments mocking both Trillanes and Dela Rosa, including:
“Di mo malaman kong galit nga to Kay bato o sadyang inlab lang, hnd matahimik e. 😂😂😂 Obsessed yarnnn🤭
(You can’t tell whether he’s really angry at Bato or just secretly in love with him. He just can’t keep quiet. 😂😂😂 So obsessed 🤭)”
“Parang kulang lang to sa lambing ni Sen. Bato guys 😁😁😁
(Looks like Sen. Bato just hasn’t given him enough affection, guys 😁😁😁)”
“Baka ikw Ang gumagamit Nyan trililing 😂 CCTV yata ito c trililing kht ano nlng maisip,best actor 😂
(Maybe you’re the one using that, Trillanes 😂 Trillanes must be like CCTV, always watching and imagining things, best actor 😂)”
“Yan kasi,kakapanuod mo ng movies trillianes….hahahhahhahaa… Ambot nalang jud nimo trillianes… Your like the nemesis of past administration…haahhahahha
(That’s what happens when you watch too many movies, Trillanes… hahahahaha… I really don’t know about you anymore, Trillanes… You’re like the nemesis of the past administration… hahahaha)”
“Mukhang magkasama kayo. Ahh bakit nasayo iyan🤔🤣
(Looks like you two are together. Oh, why do you have that with you? 🤔🤣)”
Trillanes has been interviewed about the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Dela Rosa and the failure to capture the former National Police chief and his subsequent escape from the Senate premises, when Dela Rosa was under its protective custody. At no time has he presented any possible evidence in connection with the senator’s flight, except for a copy of the ICC warrant, which he presented on May 11.
The graphic merely poked fun at the political tensions surrounding the ICC investigation into the Duterte administration’s drug war, online speculation involving Duterte allies and the possible arrest of Dela Rosa.
The satirical post circulated after online reports claiming that Dela Rosa had allegedly escaped following a lockdown in the Senate and a shooting incident on May 13.
Published by FB pages Flash Reporrt (created Nov. 2, 2018), Kasipag Mo VLog (created Oct. 1, 2018), Boss Bombay (created April 11, 2023), Dang’s Vlogs (created Oct. 24, 2017) and several other FB accounts, these posts have collectively garnered over 350,846 reactions; 40,000 comments; and 8,222 shares.
