A Facebook (FB) page uploaded a video about an unverified report from a Filipina worker in New Zealand who said she received a ballot without the name of presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo. This needs context.
FB page Amor Powers posted a two-minute video on April 24 titled: “LENI ROBREDO NOT INCLUDED IN COMELEC’S OFFICIAL BALLOT?” It appeared minutes after a Twitter user posted a photo of a ballot without Robredo’s name.
The vlogger behind Amor Powers emphasized that the report is unverified and asked the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to investigate the matter. She asked viewers to share the video so it reaches the authorities “because this could be happening in other parts of the world, or this could be just an honest mistake. We want to know the truth.”
COMELEC debunked the claim on April 25, saying that the ballot was “deliberately edited to make it appear that VP Robredo’s name is missing from the list of Presidential candidates.”
Two days later, a netizen in Amor Powers FB page said in the comments section: “Shout out COMELEC please, please asikasuhin nyo po ito (take care of this matter).”
“Maniwala po kayo at ang ating mga kababayan, hindi po totoo iyan, fake news po. Nagdeklara na po ang ating embahada sa New Zealand, wala po silang natanggap kahit isa lang na reklamo mula sa mga kababayan natin,” COMELEC Commissioner George Garcia said in an April 25 interview with DZMM Teleradyo.
(Translation: Believe us, countrymen, that’s not true, it’s fake news. The Philippine Embassy in New Zealand has not received even one complaint from our compatriots there.)
Amor Powers’ video has so far garnered 2,200 reactions, 860 comments, 81,000 views and 5,300 shares.
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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.)
