FALSE: GMA News staff accepts money from Angel Locsin

At a glance

• Claim: A video shows actress Angel Locsin paying off a man wearing a GMA Network lanyard during her planned birthday community pantry on Friday, April 23. The background music in the video says the media are corrupt or are being bought off.
• Rating: FALSE
• The facts: GMA News has issued a statement, saying the man in the video does not work with their News and Public Affairs team. Locsin’s fiancé, producer Neil Arce, also said the man was the actress’ former makeup artist.
• Why we fact-checked this: The video was emailed to Rappler for verification. 

Complete details:

A video, posted on the Facebook page “The Volunteers Of The President Rody Duterte” on Friday, April 23, shows actress Angel Locsin supposedly giving money to a person wearing a GMA Network lanyard. The background music of the video says, “Tangina niyo na mga media, mga bayaran na mga media.” (You in the media are sons of whores, the media are paid hacks.)

This claim was emailed to Rappler for verification. 

This claim is false.

On April 23, GMA News posted a statement on their official Facebook page about similar videos and photos that were circulating, saying that the man in the video didn’t work with their News and Public Affairs team.

They identified the man as a “talent” or non-regular makeup artist that they hired for one of GMA Network’s programs. GMA is a broadcasting network that airs on TV and radio. It produces shows for entertainment, aside from news programs.

“Wala pong koneksiyon ang GMA sa kanyang pagpunta sa lugar,” GMA said in their statement. (GMA has nothing to do with his visit to the area.)

Locsin’s fiancé, producer Neil Arce, posted on his Facebook page on April 23, saying the man was Locsin’s makeup artist when she worked with GMA. Locsin was with GMA until 2007, before she signed a contract with GMA’s rival network, ABS-CBN. – Vernise Tantuco/Rappler.com

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