Fact Checks about ABS-CBN

FALSE: Photo of Jeff Canoy, ABS-CBN supporters in ‘illegal mass gathering’

Rappler.com
FALSE: Photo of Jeff Canoy, ABS-CBN supporters in ‘illegal mass gathering’
The photo is from February 21, a month before the first quarantine measures were imposed in the country
Claim:

A screenshot of a news report of ABS-CBN reporter Jeff Canoy showed the “illegal mass gathering” of supporters of the network as they violate quarantine measures by not wearing masks and not observing physical distancing.

The photo circulated as early as July 19 both on Facebook and Twitter. A tweet by @gerrydeleo captioned the photo, “Illegal mass gathering , no physical distancing and no face mask..Blatant disregard of the quarantine protocols..So entitled people..”

Another post by Facebook page Boycott Abs-Cbn Station said, “Naghahanap ng covid19 ang mga taong ito (These people are looking for COVID-19).”

Facebook user Arkee Leguin also posted the same screenshot and said, “Mananita 😜. Mag mask kayo ui! Abias cbend tlga!!!! Oh baka pag may nahawa sa mga yan at nag kahawan mga yan sa mga pamilya nila.. PUTEK! SA GOBYERNO NANAMAN ISISI. AYOS HA. LAST NIO NA YAN.”

(Mañanita. It really should be Abias-Cbend!!! [A wordplay on the network’s name] You should wear masks! If somebody contracts COVID-19 and spreads it to their family…damn! You’ll blame it again on the government. That should be your last.)

Claim Check, Facebook’s monitoring tool, flagged the post for fact checkers to verify. As of writing, the Facebook posts had over 2,400 combined reactions, 463 shares, and 576 comments.

Rating: FALSE
The facts:

The screenshot was from a February 21 newscast, which took place almost a month before the first quarantine measure was imposed in the country. Canoy also debunked the claim in a tweet on July 21, in which he said that the photo “was taken months ago before the lockdown.”

Canoy answered a now-deleted tweet by user @_Bhyron that used the same photo. An archived version of the tweet can be viewed here.

Canoy’s news report was about the candlelight vigil for the renewal of the network’s legislative franchise. Those who attended the vigil wore white and donned ABS-CBN ribbons – same as the one worn by Canoy on the screenshot. (LOOK: Stars rally in support of ABS-CBN franchise renewal)

The first enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) measure was imposed in Metro Manila on March 15 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. It was expanded to Luzon on March 17. During this time, strict home quarantine for all households was implemented and transportation was suspended.

The mandatory use of face masks in public in areas under ECQ was imposed in Luzon only on April 2.

Rappler earlier debunked a similar claim that said ABS-CBN supporters were flouting quarantine rules in July but used a photo of the protesters taken from a different rally back on February 28. (FALSE: Photo of ABS-CBN supporters flouting quarantine rules)

There was also a false claim that said ABS-CBN noise barrage protesters were “confirmed positive for COVID-19.” – Pauline Macaraeg/Rappler.com

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!