A report published Sept. 28 by website pinolitika.com claiming that mainstream media has not reported on the Duterte administration’s programs for farmers and fishermen is not true.
Bearing the headline, “HINDI PINAKITA SA MEDIA! MGA MAGAGANDANG NAGAWA NG PANGULO PARA SA MGA MAGSASAKA AT MANGIGISDA. PANOORIN (Not shown in the media! The good things the President has done for farmers and fishermen. Watch),” the false report merely carried eight uncaptioned photos of fishing and farming equipment being given to beneficiaries.
A reverse image search of the photos reveals they were all taken in 2016 and swiped from the Facebook page of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Pinol. The photos show:
- President Rodrigo Duterte’s handover of P100-million worth of farming and fishing equipment in Basilan province on Oct. 10, 2016, marking his first 100 days in office
- The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)’s handover of fiberglass fishing boats to Badjao fishermen in Zamboanga City on Sept. 2-13, 2016
- The inauguration of the first batch of Badjao fishermen who have joined the government’s anti-illegal fishing program Bantay Laut on Sept. 14, 2016 in Davao region.
- The DA and BFAR’s distribution of fishing and farming equipment to fishermen and farmers of Catarman, Northern Samar on Sept. 15 to 16, 2016
Contrary to pinolitika.com’s claim, all these events were covered by the media, among the SunStar, Philstar.com, Inquirer.net, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard and Business World.
These are the actual locations where and dates when the photos were actually taken, contrary to Pinolitka.com’s misleading claim.
Pinolitika.com’s false story, which could have reached more than 198,000 people, was published days after the Department of Agriculture confirmed the importation of an additional 750,000 metric tons of rice to help curb its rising price in the market.
President Rodrigo Duterte and Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol have insisted there is no rice shortage and blamed the tight supply of the commodity on hoarders.
Social media traffic to the false story largely came from the page President Rody Duterte.
Pinolitika.com was created July 20.
(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
