A video on Facebook (FB) is claiming that utility companies Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and Maynilad Water Services are returning to government hands. This is not true.
On July 10, an FB netizen published the video that bore the caption: “The Best ka talaga PBBM (You’re the best, President Marcos)”.
The text that followed, also superimposed throughout the video’s 9-minute run, read:
“Matapos na ibininta (sic) ni Aquino ang meralco at maynilad. Meralco at maynilad balik na sa pamahalaan ng pilipinas (After [former President Corazon Aquino] privatized Meralco and Maynilad. Meralco and Maynilad are now returning to the Philippine government).”
The video used unrelated clips taken from President Ferdinand Marcos’ May 15 speech during the ceremonial signing of the renewal agreement of the Malampaya service contract and May 9 departure statement for his participation in the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.
At around the 1:45 mark of the erroneous video, the narrator claimed that Marcos said he is “claiming back” these utility companies.
In both speeches, Marcos made no mention of such a claim. There are no official documents or legitimate news reports stating this alleged change of ownership of these utility companies.
Meralco is currently operating under a 25-year franchise granted by Congress in 2003 through Republic Act (RA) No. 9209. (Read more VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Post that Meralco will be replaced MISLEADS and VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Marcos DID NOT shut down Meralco)
Like Meralco, Maynilad is also operating under a 25-year franchise through RA 11600 which was enacted by Congress in 2021.
The false video emerged the same day that Maynilad announced a water interruption schedule in select areas to mitigate the possible negative effects of El Niño on Angat Dam in the coming months.
The FB netizen’s video has garnered over 8,000 reactions, 1,600 comments, 1,300 shares and 107,000 views.
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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.)
