AFP Philippines

No, this video does not show a former Philippine president being thrown into a creek

Published on 18 October 2018 at 17:00

A widely-shared Facebook post includes a video that it claims shows the Philippines’ former president Benigno Aquino III being thrown off a capsizing boat and into a creek. A reverse image search found the man in the clip was actually an Indian politician, who then confirmed the details of the incident to AFP. Aquino’s spokeswoman said it was not him in the video.

No, this is not the skeleton of biblical giant Goliath

Published on 16 October 2018 at 10:00

A widely-shared Facebook post contains an image which it claims shows the skeleton of the biblical giant Goliath. A reverse image search found the photograph first appeared online in 2007. The photographer told AFP it is of the sculpture "Calamita Cosmica" created by an Italian artist.

No, this photo does not show the rehabilitated Philippine tourist destination of Boracay

Published on 12 October 2018 at 07:45

A photograph shared on Facebook claims to show the current state of Boracay, which was closed to tourists on 26 April, 2018 for a major clean-up operation. A reverse image search found the picture was actually taken in Thailand at the Kham Tok Islands on November 6, 2016. The photographer and Google mapping data both confirmed this.

No, a survey did not show that many Filipinos believe their nation’s vice president has a mental health problem

Published on 11 October 2018 at 16:30Updated on 12 October 2018 at 04:50

A website claims that a public opinion survey found that 45 percent of Filipinos believe the country’s Vice President Leni Robredo has a mental health problem. The independent polling group cited as the source of the information told AFP it had not conducted any such survey. A spokesman for the vice president said the survey was fake news.

No, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth did not tell Donald Trump to emulate Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

Published on 24 September 2018 at 11:00

A widely-shared Facebook post claims that Britain’s Queen Elizabeth told world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, to emulate and follow in the footsteps of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. A check of the queen’s public engagements, speeches, and Royal Family social media accounts, shows that no such statement was made. As head of state, the queen is obliged to remain politically neutral.

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