A reader asked VERA Files Fact Check to verify a photo of the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai allegedly flashing a graphic expressing support for presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. This is fake.
The graphic is a doctored version of a photo of the iconic landmark in the United Arab Emirates as it lit up with the Philippine flag’s colors of red, blue, yellow, and white on June 12, 2019. It was in celebration of the Southeast Asian nation’s 121st independence day.
Copies of the original, unedited photo could be traced to posts on June 13, 2019 by a Twitter user and the official Facebook page of The Filipino Channel, a television network for overseas Filipinos.
The illumination event was reported by several media outlets such as ABS-CBN, Inquirer.net and Manila Bulletin.
Images of fireworks were digitally added to surround the landmark, while a banner showing support for Marcos Jr.’s 2022 presidential run was also photoshopped at the base of the tower.
The altered image first surfaced on Nov. 7, when a caravan was held in Ilocos Sur province in support of Marcos Jr.
At least seven netizens and the Facebook (FB) page Gets-you have reposted the edited photo on the social media platform, collectively garnering 564 interactions. One of the more viral copies of the post garnered at least 9,400 reactions and 5,300 shares, before it was taken down on the evening of Nov. 8.
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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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