Netizens are still sharing a two-month-old Facebook (FB) post about a fake ad claiming that geriatrician Gary Sy promoted Glufarelin, a milk supplement that allegedly cures diabetes.
In 2022, the Food and Drug Administration warned people against purchasing or consuming Glufarelin, which is not on the agency’s list of registered food products.
Impostor FB page Dr. Gary Sy Gabay posted a fake ad warning against fake versions of Glufarelin on e-commerce sites. Published on May 17, it tricks netizens into buying the ‘authentic’ product through a bogus weblink.
“❌Warning❌ Stop buying fake Glufarelin milk on shopee, lazada now.??… I contacted the company and they only distributed 1 store in Manila, Philippines. Here is their store link…,” part of the bogus FB post read.
In his official FB page, Sy in a May 23 post warned:
“FAKE!!! HUWAG KAYONG BUMILI NG Glufarelin Milk!!! Baka malason kayo (Fake! Don’t buy Glufarelin milk! You might get poisoned)!”
The bogus link redirects people to an article (glufarelin-milk.asia) claiming that those who use Glufarelin will not need insulin injections.
There is no cure for diabetes, endocrinologist Marjorie Ramos, president of the Philippine College of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, previously told VERA Files Fact Check.
(Read: PGH, endocrinologist Augusto Litonjua NOT promoting milk supplement for diabetes)
The fake FB post used a Sept. 4, 2022 photo of Sy with three cakes. The Glufarelin can was digitally inserted into the picture.
Aside from the erroneous claim, the website also carries fake endorsements using the photos and names of licensed physician Kilimanjaro Tiwaquen and cardiologists Willie Ong and Tony Leachon. All of them have previously denied endorsing Glufarelin.
The fake post by FB page Dr. Gary Sy Gabay (created on May 3) garnered over 6,299 interactions.
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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.)
