CLAIM: Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan is endorsing a medication that can lower cholesterol levels.
RATING: FALSE
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan became the victim of a malicious Facebook post that promoted a “specialized” milk claiming to cure hypertension and other diseases.
The post was made by a newly created Facebook page that impersonated the cardinal.
It also misused a thumbnail from Shalom World’s YouTube video featuring the cardinal and a text that read “A Heart-to-heart with Bishop Ambo.”
The link led unsuspecting readers to a fake website mimicking the Makati Medical Center but uses the “doh-gov.ph” as its URL.
An article promoted “Cholextrol” as a supposed cure for hypertension with a promise to lengthen the life expectancy of anyone using it.
The Philippine Food and Drug Administration however warned the public in June 2024 to avoid purchasing and consuming Cholextrol.
The official Facebook page of the Diocese of Kalookan issued a statement on Dec. 28 warning the public about the fake Facebook page bearing the name “Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David.”
The statement also clarified that Cardinal David is “not endorsing any medication,” adding that the Kalookan bishop is in good health. Hurt Allauigan
PressOne.PH is a verified signatory of the Code of Principles of the International Fact -Checking Network (IFCN) at Poynter. The code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network is a series of commitments organizations abide by to promote excellence in fact-checking. We believe nonpartisan and transparent fact-checking can be a powerful instrument of accountability journalism..
PressOne.PH believes that fact-checking is essential to combating misinformation and disinformation, and in informing and educating citizens and voters. Read more of PressOne.PH’s Fact-Checking Policy by clicking here.
The public is welcome to send feedback or requests for fact-checks at factcheck@pressone.ph.
If you believe PressOne.PH is violating the Code of Principles of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), you may submit a complaint directly to the IFCN website: https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/complaints-policy
FACT-CHECK: Supreme Court did not junk impeachment case against VP Duterte
Multiple pro-Duterte Facebook pages have repeatedly shared a false claim that the Supreme Court had dismissed the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
FACT-CHECK: Sen. Mark Villar did not criticize VP Duterte, Senate minority bloc
An AI-generated graphic with a manufactured quote attributed to Sen. Mark Villar, falsely insinuating that he had publicly criticized the Senate minority and the vice president, has been racking up significant engagement on social media.
FACT-CHECK: ICC trial of Duterte still set to begin Nov. 30
A series of AI-generated news graphics made the rounds of Facebook groups supporting former president Rodrigo Duterte, falsely claiming that a majority of International Criminal Court (ICC) judges had rejected the evidence against him and moved to end his case by year-end.
