Categories
FACT CHECK FB FC

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Liza Ong NOT endorsing unregistered prostate cream

Liza Ong is endorsing a cream called Sumifun which allegedly cures prostatitis. The product is registered with the Food and Drug Administration.

Facebook page Prostate Cream JP 12/28/2023 Fake

Ramoso-Ong denied endorsing Sumifun prostate cream and disowned the video. Sumifun is also not in the FDA’s list of approved drug products nor is it registered as a licensed drug manufacturer, trader or distributor.

A viral video on Facebook (FB) is claiming that doctor Liza Ramoso-Ong is endorsing a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- approved topical cream that allegedly cures prostatitis. This is fake. 

In a Jan. 4 Viber message to VERA Files Fact Check, Ramoso-Ong denied endorsing Sumifun prostate cream and disowned the video, calling it “fake news.”

Sumifun is also not in the FDA’s list of approved drug products nor is it registered as a licensed drug manufacturer, trader or distributor.

Physician Liza Ramoso-Ong is not endorsing Sumifun prostate cream that allegedly treats prostatitis.

The product is also not registered with the Food and Drug Administration.

Posted on Dec. 28, 2023, the publisher manipulated an old clip of Ramoso-Ong to make it look like she was promoting the product and attesting that she had personally used it to treat her husband’s prostatitis, a condition that causes inflammation of the prostate.

The bogus ad also carried a link to a website where users can supposedly purchase the product.

But in the original video posted in August 2022, she only discussed signs and symptoms of prostate cancer, and shared tips on how to prevent the disease. She never mentioned the product. 

Ramoso-Ong also reminded the public that she and her cardiologist husband Willie Ong have only one official Facebook page. 

“Netizens cannot distinguish the blue verified check. Like all fake news, they will believe anything they read even if we repeatedly disclaim them,” she added. 

The couple is also not endorsing any other product except a milk supplement for the elderly. 

Uploaded by FB page Prostate Cream JP (created Dec. 28, 2023), the video has received over a million views, 13,000 reactions and 1,100 comments.

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.)