A netizen made six Facebook (FB) posts claiming that the office of Sen. Robinhood Padilla is accepting applications for a P3,000 financial aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). These are fake.
“Ngayong Araw tatanggap na po Ang opisina ni Sen. Robin Padilla Ng mga MABIBIGYAN NG Tulong PINANSYAL 3,000 pesos Mag palista na Dito (Today, the office of Sen. Robin Padilla will receive (applications from those who will be given) P3,000 of financial aid, sign up here),” said the FB posts, which appeared on June 4 and 5.
The spurious posts referred to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), educational assistance and other aid programs of the DSWD.
The DSWD has made no such announcement. And contrary to the post’s claim, there is no registration needed in order to receive grants and other benefits under the 4Ps, according to Dianne Joie Ruiz, Director IV of DSWD’s Social Marketing Service. She added that the program has a standardized targeting system to assess those who are eligible.
“From the list of poor households, those with children, 18 and below or have a pregnant member within the household, can qualify for the 4Ps, provided that they are also willing to comply with the conditions set,” she told VERA Files Fact Check via email.
The fake posts used the photo of Padilla to give it a semblance of legitimacy but Ruiz said the DSWD “has no partnership with any politicians and legislators” in the distribution of its assistance.
She advised the public to only refer to the DSWD’s official social media accounts and website as well as to its personnel from the Central Office and Field Offices when inquiring about social protection packages.
Many fabricated posts have tagged the DSWD, thus Ruiz added: “The DSWD also reminds (the public) to remain vigilant and refrain from entertaining information from unknown and unverified sources to avoid confusion.” (Read: VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Impostor group shares FAKE DSWD 4Ps announcement)
The bogus FB posts got a total of over 1,995 interactions. They came out the same day Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee urged the DSWD to increase its cash aid for 4Ps recipients.
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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.)
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