Photo courtesy of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
CLAIM: An article entitled “Nabigla? Radio host sinabing hindi alam ni Tulfo na darating si Robredo sa kanyang opisina (Surprised? Radio host said Tulfo was unaware that Robredo will visit his office)” was posted by a website called Daily BNC News on August 27. It used the Facebook post of blogger Mark Lopez as reference to report that former Vice President Leni Robredo barged into the office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Tulfo – sans appointment.
The post, on which the report was based, stated that a certain “MADUMB” visited the DSWD office “unannounced and without appointment”, catching Tulfo “off guard and cornered”. It further claimed that the same personality brought a photographer to take a picture of the said meeting.
RATING: MISLEADING
FACTS: Mark Lopez’s claims have no basis. While the meeting really took place, there is no compelling evidence to substantiate that Robredo cornered Tulfo.
The DSWD secretary was also the first to post on Facebook about his meeting with Robredo, which was shared several minutes later by the Angat Buhay Facebook page.
“Nagprisinta si Mrs. Robredo na tutulong ang kanilang volunteers sa mga probinsya sa pagbigay ng agarang impormasyon sa DSWD hinggil sa mga lugar na tinamaan ng kalamidad para mahatiran agad ng ayuda,” Tulfo wrote on Facebook. (Mrs. Robredo presented that their volunteers in the provinces will give information to the DSWD with respect to calamity-affected areas that need immediate help.)
Robredo, along with Angat Buhay executive director Raffy Magno, met with Tulfo to discuss their programs and other possible points for coordination with the DSWD.
In a tweet, Robredo called out the false claim. She said they wrote a letter addressed to Tulfo requesting a courtesy visit. “The OSEC staff got in touch with us and gave us a schedule. I went with Angat Buhay ED Raffy Magno. Not one photographer from us.”
She added: “The only photographer present was the DSWD photographer. We just shared Sec Erwin Tulfo’s Facebook post. Stop spreading fake news.”
After stepping down as Vice President at the end of her term in June, Robredo spearheaded the Angat Buhay NGO, which aims to continue some of the programs that her office initiated over the past six years.
In an earlier interview, Tulfo shared his intent to work with Angat Buhay. “Ang pagtulong po kasi walang kulay, hindi ho red, hindi ho pink… Dapat colorless po ‘yan para wala kang nakikita di ho ba. Malaking tulong ho iyan, ‘yang Angat Buhay na ‘yan,” he said. (When it comes to helping others, we should know no colors. Angat Buhay is a great help.)
As of writing, the Facebook post written by Lopez already has around 7,700 reactions, 1,200 comments, and 584 shares.
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