CLAIM: Ricky Davao died due to an aneurysm.
RATING: FALSE
A Facebook page falsely claimed that actor and director Ricky Davao died due to a brain aneurysm. The post was written as a tribute by someone who claimed to be “Mayeth Malca,” as presented as Ricky Davao’s girlfriend.
The post narrated how Davao allegedly suffered a sudden, severe headache and was rushed from Makati to St. Luke’s Medical Center. It further claimed that he was taken abroad for advanced treatment, such as to the Mayo Clinic in the US and for stem cell therapy in Switzerland, but that his condition worsened and ultimately led to his death.
On May 2, 2025, Ara Davao posted a statement on her official Instagram account, confirming her father’s death and stating that he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after complications related to cancer.
PressOne.PH found out the Facebook page behind the post was originally created on March 25, 2025 under the name “Baby Dumbo.” It was renamed to “Mayeth Malca” on May 5, just days after Ricky Davao’s death, and on the same day, it published the fabricated story. The page’s history can be viewed through the page transparency section.
The photo used in the post is a black-and-white version of the same image shared on the official Instagram account of Mayeth Malca, along with her message for Ricky Davao.
At the end of the post, users were encouraged to click a link that redirected to an impostor “Department of Health” website mimicking the Philippine Heart Center’s domain.
The site featured a fake interview with Dr. Eric Tayag, explaining methods to prevent brain aneurysms using a “special milk” that supposedly strengthens blood vessels.
Upon opening the website, a product called “Cholexterol” was being promoted.
As of writing, the fabricated post has gained wide engagement, with 7,500 reactions, 872 comments, and 659 shares. Milyn Carreon
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