Several impostor Facebook (FB) pages and sites are spreading a post about an antibacterial gel and claiming it is being promoted by cardiologist Willie Ong and his general practitioner wife Liza Ramoso-Ong. This is fake.
The couple is not endorsing this product called Kavern intimate wash. The photos and videos showing the couple holding the antibacterial gel were manipulated.
The product is not registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is not on the list of cosmetic products with Certificates of Product Notification.
Circulated as early as March 17, the posts bore altered images and clips of the couple with captions falsely claiming that they recommend the product. Kavern intimate wash allegedly “prevents and treats” “gynecological infections” like the “human papillomavirus” and other “vaginal problems.”
The posts redirect netizens to sites where they are asked to provide personal information so they can avail themselves of the product. These sites also feature a photo of the couple.
In a public advisory posted on April 18, Ong reiterated that they only endorse a milk product for seniors and that all other ads are fake. Ong also urged the public to rely only on their official social media accounts.
Most of the circulating posts by impostor pages carried audio clips and altered photos and videos from Ong and Ramoso-Ong’s original posts. One such video is a clip from their vlog on eczema treatments uploaded in 2018. The bottle of lotion was edited and changed into the intimate wash.
Another clip of Ramoso-Ong holding a bottle of lotion in a 2017 vlog was also manipulated to make it look like she’s holding the product instead.
The sites that published the fake advertisements bore the domain names BESTSELLER68.ONLINE, FUJIKOSTORE.CLICK, SMARTSTORES.ASIA, bestchoice247.online, NTNMALL10.ONLINE, CEBUCOSMESTIC.ONLINE, AUTHSTORE.ONLINE, AEONMALL88.ONLINE, shoppingmall08.online, THEBESTKIND01.STORE and CLICKBUY247.CLICK.
Most of these sites also show a certificate of accreditation from the Department of Trade and Industry for “Kavern intimate skincare intimate wash.” This is an altered copy as the original certificate belongs to an FDA testing and quality assurance laboratory in Davao.
On April 19, Ong posted a video addressing a demand letter sent by Kris Aquino’s legal counsel about a fake ad using her identity allegedly posted in the couple’s verified profiles. Ong explained that the ads were posted by impostor sites, not from their verified accounts.
VERA Files Fact Check previously debunked other false advertisements using Ong and Ramoso-Ong’s identities to sell products. (Read ‘Super Meal Mix Nuts’ ads to fight diabetes, cancer are a SCAM)
The fake ads were mostly posted by impostor FB pages such as Doctor Liza Ramoso Ong (created on April 10), Doc Liza Ramoso-Ong (March 28) and Doc. Willie and Lizza Ramos 0ng (April 4).
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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.)