A post on Facebook (FB) carried an altered statement of former Vice President Leni Robredo and described it as her first as citizen Leni. This is misleading. The statement was made before she officially finished her term.
The modified quote was lifted from Robredo’s May 13 speech, where she announced that she will launch the “Angat Buhay NGO [non-government organization]” after her term ends.
On June 30, an FB page published a graphic supposedly featuring a message of Robredo after she stepped down from office. It read: “Hindi pagtatapos ang araw na ito, hindi pagtatapos ang araw na ito… kundi tanda ng pagsisimula ng bagong kabanata, tanda ng pagsisimula ng kabanata at tayo magkakasamang magsusulat nito, tinanglawan natin ang landas sa isa’t isa, tinanglawan natin ang landas sa isa’t isa, diretso lang tayo, diretso lang tayo para mas maraming matanglawan pa na iba…”
(This day is not the end, this day is not the end. But it only marks a new chapter, marks a new chapter and we will be the ones writing it. We illuminated each other’s paths, illuminated each other’s paths. We move forward, move forward to enlighten more people.)
The statement is real, but it was made while Robredo was still in office. It was also maliciously modified, where several phrases were repeated, apparently to make her sound dumb.
In the misleading quote card, Robredo was also labeled as the “former fake vice president” of the Philippines.
In her speech, she said: “Hindi pagtatapos ang araw na ito, kundi tanda ng pagsisimula ng bagong kabanata– at tayo ang magkakasamang susulat nito. Tinanglawan natin ang landas ng isa’t isa; diretso lang tayo para mas marami pang matanglawan na iba.”
(This day is not the end, it is merely the start of a new chapter – and we are the ones who will write it. We illuminated each other’s paths, and we will move forward to enlighten more people.)
Many netizens took the altered statement at face value and criticized the former vice president, commenting that she is “out of her wits” again for delivering such a nonsensical message.
It is also not true that she is a “fake” vice president. In February 2021, the Supreme Court affirmed Robredo’s vice presidency when it unanimously junked the electoral protest filed by then senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., back when he ran for the position in 2016.
A day before the misleading graphic appeared, the Office of the Vice President received an “unqualified opinion” rating from the Commission on Audit for the fourth and last time, indicating that all their financial statements are in order.
The post was published by FB page President BBM Supporters (created on Feb. 4, 2021). It garnered more than 2,200 reactions, 960 comments and 50 shares.
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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.)
