A misleading story was published May 3 by pinoynews.info claiming Communications Secretary Martin Andanar connived with Benjamin and Erwin Tulfo in the multimillion-peso ad deal between state-run People’s Television Network Inc., Tulfo-owned production house Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. and the Department of Tourism, currently under Tulfo sister Wanda Teo.
The story carries a video of a press briefing the same day by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque saying the investigation on the ad deal “would cover everyone.” He did not single out Andanar, nor say he is a “co-conspirator,” and thus does not bear out the headline: “NAKAKAGULAT! ANDANAR KASABWAT PALA NG TULFO BROTHERS PINA IMBISTIGAHAN NI DUTERTE! PANOORIN (Shocking! Andanar, co-conspirator of Tulfo brothers, having investigated by Duterte! Watch).”
The story was posted six days after the Commission on Audit published a report revealing that the DOT ads produced by BMUI and placed in PTV-4 show Kilos Pronto were not supported by proper documents. PTV-4 is under Andanar’s Presidential Communications Operations Office.
The 18-minute clip used in the story was lifted from a 30-minute CNN Philippines live broadcast of Roque’s briefing, where he made no further comment on Andanar’s alleged involvement in the deal, saying he would leave that to Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, who revealed that Andanar was part of the probe.
Pinoynews.info was created April 27, while Youtube channel DDS News Army – which uploaded the clip – was made September 2017. Along with the Youtube video, the story could have reached more than 3.1 million people. Its biggest traffic generators on social media are President Rody Duterte -Federal Movement International, President Duterte Worldwide Supporters and President Duterte Astig Supporters.
(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
