A YouTube video is claiming that China has invaded the Ilocos region. This is not true. The video is a clickbait.
The video merely played clips of an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) drill in Ilocos Norte. Not one supports the headline that read:
“CHINA KINUHA NA PATI ILOCOS! PBBM BINALAAN NA CHINA! GYERA NA TALAGA! BIGLAANG ANUNSIYO NG PANGULO (China has already captured Ilocos! President Bongbong Marcos warned China! This is war! Sudden announcement of the president)!”
There are no reports from the AFP or the People’s Liberation Army of any military operation in Ilocos involving the Chinese.
The video only played clips taken during the AFP’s Exercise DAGIT-PA which was held from Nov. 8 to 17, including that of AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner speaking to troops.
The annual interoperability drill involves personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines and aims to “test and demonstrate the capability of [the] AFP to conduct joint territorial defense operations.”
As part of the exercise, the AFP also held live fire drills in Burgos, Ilocos Norte on Nov. 15.
Uploaded by YouTube channel Boss Balita TV (created July 15, 2021) with 363,000 subscribers, the video received 36,828 views. Netizens also shared the link on Facebook.
VERA Files Fact Check has flagged this channel several times for spreading disinformation about China and the West Philippine Sea.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
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