Several netizens and a Facebook (FB) page are spreading links to a counterfeit “CNN Philippines” news report on a hypertension cure deliberately concealed from patients.
First posted on Jan. 1, the fake posts all featured a thumbnail that showed images of Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Superimposed on it were a “breaking news” graphic, a logo of the media company, and a news ticker that bore this text:
“Iskandalo sa studio! Itinago nila ang pangunahing lunas para sa presyon mula sa mga pasyenteng hypertensive! Sila pala (Scandal in the studio! They concealed the primary cure for hypertension from hypertensive patients! They are)…”
A post from an FB page even bore a caption quoting “Vergeire” on a supposed method to get rid of blood clots. It read:
“Mga pensiyonado, linisin ang mga sisidlan sa bahay! Sa isang gabi, 4 kg ng mga namuong dugo ang lumalabas kung uminom ka ng 2 bagay nang walang laman ang tiyan (To pensioners, clean vessels at home. In one night, 4 kg of blood clot will be coming out if you drink 2 things on an empty stomach).”
Both the DOH and CNN Philippines disowned the circulating posts.
On Jan. 8, DOH posted an advisory calling the exposé “a fabricated scenario” and “false information.”
— Department of Health (@DOHgovph) January 8, 2023
CNN Philippines has also warned the public against the fake report that bore its name and logo.
CNN Philippines strongly condemns the proliferation of false information. We will only continue to provide #NewsYouCanTrust. pic.twitter.com/goKOp5cq2I
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) January 8, 2023
To add to its duplicity, the links in the posts lead netizens to websites imitating the e-commerce platform eBay to promote various products.
The fabricated posts came about a few days after a fake DOH advisory made the rounds among Filipinos. (Read related story FAKE DOH advisory on ‘respiratory infection’ in China circulates)
Netizens circulated the links with these questionable web domains GESZXWESAWEWER.FUN, FGERVAWEWER.FUN, JAGERVAWEWER.FUN, SDVCS.FUN, ASFS.FUN, FSASFS.FUN, GEQWEAWEWER.FUN and REWWQ.FUN. The post by the FB page Aurorateamfit (created on Nov. 4, 2022) also garnered 104 reactions, 67 comments and 21 shares.
Have you seen any dubious claims, photos, memes, or online posts that you want us to verify? Fill out this reader request form or send it to ‘VERA, the truth bot’ on Viber.
(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
