MANILA, Philippines — Video of a crowded Divisoria market circulating on social media is old footage, the city government of Manila said Saturday, denying that it occurred during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
“The city government would like to stress that the old footages do not in any way reflect the current situation of the Divisoria night market area, as shown in the first photo attached to this post,” Manila’s Public Information Office (PIO) wrote on Twitter.
“This is in compliance with the national government’s Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) protocols and physical distancing measures,” it added.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT: The Manila City government would like to correct and clarify the misleading footages published on social media regarding the situation in the Divisoria night market area.
(Thread below)#AlertoManileno #COVID19PH pic.twitter.com/CsxMzPu8GG
— Manila Public Information Office (@ManilaPIO) April 18, 2020
The viral video was also shared by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin Jr.
Manila PIO said both government officials issued their own statements, saying the video was old and “did not reflect the current situation in the area.”
The country’s top diplomat has taken to Twitter to explain that the video was “fake news,” asking the public to ignore the shared video.
“I just got a call from Mayor Isko. This is an old video. THIS IS FAKE NEWS. IGNORE THIS S***. I WILL ASK MY FRIEND WHY HE POSTED IT. THIS IS NOT TRUE,” Loscin said in a tweet.
I just got a call from Mayor Isko. This is an old video. THIS IS FAKE NEWS. IGNORE THIS SHIT. I WILL ASK MY FRIEND WHY HE POSTED IT. THIS IS NOT TRUE. https://t.co/K4zSFwbVW0
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) April 18, 2020