VERA Files

VERA Files is a nonstock, nonprofit, independent media organization. Founded in March 2008, it is published by veteran Filipino journalists taking a deeper look into current Philippine issues. Vera is Latin for “true.”

Institutions

ICC public counsel shoots down PH appeal to stop probe on Duterte’s drug war

The government has suffered another setback in its effort to stop the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on drug-related crimes during the Duterte administration as an office of public lawyers in the tribunal shot down all the arguments it presented.

April 22, 2023

Institutions

Celebrating Eid al-Fitr – VERA Files

Filipino Muslims gather at Rizal Park in Manila to celebrate the end of the month of Ramadan Saturday, April 22. It was the first on-site prayer following the pandemic. The practice of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is one

April 22, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Marcos DID NOT shut down Meralco

A YouTube video falsely claims that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has closed down the Manila Electric Company (Meralco). The power firm is still operating under its 25-year franchise. Posted on April 5, the 17-minute video carried the untrue headline: “KAKAPASOK LANG

April 19, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: ‘ABS-CBN’ impostor sites post FAKE story on ‘diabetes cure’

Websites imitating ABS-CBN News posted a story on a diabetes remedy supposedly endorsed by former National Task Force against COVID-19 special adviser Tony Leachon. The article is fabricated. The fake story was posted by the sites hlthshop.club and pilippro.shop that imitate the

April 18, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: ‘Super Meal Mix Nuts’ ads to fight diabetes, cancer are a SCAM

Several advertisements on Facebook (FB) are peddling a mixed cereal product that people are supposedly lining up to buy at a mall, allegedly claiming to provide a myriad of health benefits. This is a scam. These ads were posted by at least

April 18, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: FB Reel does NOT show China zombie outbreak

A Facebook (FB) user published a Reel claiming a virus that turns people into zombies has spread in China. Not true. “Sinabi pang may zombie outbreak na raw sa China pero tinatago lang ito ng gobyerno nila para hindi mag-panic ang mga

April 17, 2023

Institutions

The failed propaganda of Huang Xilian

Under a one-party autocracy, one cannot expect much diplomacy from ambassadors of the People’s Republic of China. How China sees the world is how its Chinese Communist Party sees the world. Any Chinese ambassador is as much an ambassador of the CCP.

April 17, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Pahayag ng Cagayan congressman na bumaligtad ang mga business group sa pagsuporta sa Cha-cha nangangailangan ng konteksto

Sinabi ni Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez na ang Makati Business Club (MBC) at ang Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) ay tumalikod sa kanilang suporta sa pag-amyenda sa 1987 Constitution. Ito ay nangangailangan ng konteksto. Nagbigay ng reaksyon

April 16, 2023

Institutions

PH asks ICC permission to counter prosecution’s petition to resume drug war probe

The government wants to refute the arguments made by International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan last week in pressing to continue its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity under the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs.” In an April 11 petition, the

April 16, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Tolentino representing Dela Rosa in ICC needs context

On March 29, Sen. Francis Tolentino said he had “accepted the proposal” to be counsel of his colleague, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, before the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Netherlands-based court is poised to look into drug-related crimes during the Duterte

April 15, 2023