FALSE: Media did not report on March 23 COVID-19 case tally

At a glance:

• Claim: The media did not report on the COVID-19 case tally in the Philippines on March 23 because the number of new cases dropped.
• Rating: FALSE
• The facts: At least 8 news organizations reported on the March 23 case count.
• Why we fact-checked this: This claim was submitted through the “Fact-checking in the Philippines” Facebook group.

Complete details:

Former broadcaster Jay Sonza falsely claimed that the media did not report on the March 23 COVID-19 case tally in the Philippines because the number of new cases dropped.

“Kapag 7k to 8k ang covid19 positive cases for a day – Headliner, Banner story, with matching editorial pa. Kahapon, March 23, 2021 walang news coverage, no story, no postings. Bakit? Kasi po bumagsak ang bilang ng bagong kaso,” his post read.

(When the COVID-19 positive cases for a day hit 7,000 to 8,000, they become headlines, with a banner story, even with matching editorial. Yesterday, March 23, 2021, there was no news coverage, no story, no postings. Why? Because the number of new cases dropped.)

This claim was submitted through the “Fact-checking in the Philippines” Facebook group. The post has gained 10,000 reactions, 680 comments, and 1,200 shares as of writing.

The claim is false.

A Google search shows at least 8 news reports from local media on the March 23 COVID-19 case tally in the Philippines.

Rappler, ABS-CBN News, Philstar, CNN Philippines, INQUIRER.net, GMA News, SunStar, and even the state-run Philippine News Agency reported on the 5,867 new coronavirus cases on March 23.

Rappler and CNN Philippines noted that the new case count broke a 4-day streak of over 7,000 new cases per day. SunStar also stated that the new infections “declined to less than 7,000 for the first time in five days.”

Sonza also falsely said in his post, “2,000 lang iyong tested positive sa sars-cov-2 sa maghapon at magdamag.” (Only 2,000 tested positive for SARS-COV-2 all day.)

Multiple news organizations – including Rappler, ABS-CBN News Channel, Inquirer, DZRH News, and CNN Philippines – posted the March 23 case count on social media as well.

Rappler has fact-checked other posts by Sonza. Recently, he falsely claimed that former senator Bongbong Marcos is a graduate of Princeton University. – Loreben Tuquero/Rappler.com

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