Netizens are sharing a screenshot of a counterfeit tweet made to look like Vice President Leni Robredo said she will “bring back the Aquino government” if elected president in the May polls.
A reader asked VERA Files Fact Check to investigate the fake photo circulating, posted on Feb. 6 by Facebook (FB) page Kapitan Solomon 2022.
It bore the profile picture, name, and username of Robredo’s verified Twitter account (@lenirobredo), a photo of her with the late President Benigno Aquino III, and the text:
“Ibabalik ko po ang Aquino government. Kung ano ang ginawa ni PNoy noong 2010-2016 sa Pilipinas ay gagawin ko rin sa 2022-2028.”
(I will bring back the Aquino government. Whatever PNoy did from 2010-2016 for the Philippines, I will also do from 2022-2028.)
In a message to VERA Files, Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez belied the circulating photo: “She never said this. This is a complete fabrication.”
A review of Robredo’s tweets showed no record of the made-up tweet. The last time Robredo mentioned Aquino on Twitter, as of Feb. 18, was on Feb. 1 when she thanked former military chiefs, cabinet members, and career diplomats who worked under Aquino for rallying their support behind her presidential bid.
A reverse image search showed that the photo of Robredo and Aquino used in the fake tweet was, in truth, a Philippine Star photo published on Aug. 22, 2018. It was taken a day earlier, which was the commemoration of Ninoy Aquino’s 35th death anniversary.
Kapitan Solomon 2022’s fake post was published two days before the campaign period for national candidates officially began. Robredo is vying for the presidential seat and is running against nine other candidates.
On Feb. 7, Twitter user @OrmanPogi also uploaded the fabricated image and captioned it: “Thank you #MaDumb for reinforcing my resolve not to vote for you! #NeverAgainNoynoying.” MaDumb is a derogatory term used by critics to refer to Robredo.
At least two FB pages—Baryo Bagong Lipunan and ONE DAY PH—published a screenshot of @OrmanPogi’s tweet, further spreading the fake tweet on social media. Their posts have collectively received 1,289 reactions, 481 comments, and 289 shares from netizens.
A review of the pages Kapitan Solomon 2022, Baryo Bagong Lipunan, and ONE DAY PH revealed all three have been publishing posts supportive of Robredo’s rival candidate, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Kapitan Solomon 2022 was created in May 2018, Baryo Bagong Lipunan in November 2021, and ONE DAY PH in January 2020.
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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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