Belmonte warns vs fake news on cash aid payout in QC Circle
FILE Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte
MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte warned her constituents about a disinformation circulating on social media about a supposed cash aid distribution by the local government at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Wednesday.
“This morning po, nagkaroon na naman po ng fake news na pinapapunta lahat ng mga taumbayan sa Quezon Memorial Circle para kumuha po ng pera,” Belmonte revealed in a DZMM TeleRadyo interview.
(This morning po, there was fake news, telling residents to go to Quezon Memorial Circle to get money.)
The city hall got wind of the “fake news” after receiving calls from constituents confirming if there was indeed aid distribution to be held in the area.
With this, the mayor called on Quezon City residents to get their information from official sources.
Article continues after this advertisement“Gusto ko lang po mag-apela sa lahat po ng mga mamamayan ng lungsod Quezon, please get your information from official sources — ‘yung official FB page ng inyong barangay, official FB page po ng lungsod. ‘Wag po maniwala sa kumakalat na fake news,” Belmonte said.
Article continues after this advertisement(I want to appeal to Quezon City residents, please get your information from official sources — the official FB page of your barangays, official FB page of the city. Don’t believe in fake news.)
The city’s leader added that the people should avoid wasting time by validating the information they receive.
Belmonte was relieved that residents did not flock to Quezon Memorial Circle. This, as the city government knew the circulating message early and countered that it was not true.
According to Belmonte, she expects more similar incidents as the local government handled false information in their COVID-19 vaccination program as well.
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