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

Just tiis na lang ba tayo sa dilim?

May nagbabantang energy crisis sa Pilipinas dahil sa papalapit na pagkaubos ng Malampaya gas field. Ano-ano nga ba ang pwedeng magawa ng Marcos administration para maiwasan ito? Pakinggan sa unang episode ng #TresFromTressShow ng VERA Files: Maaari din pakinggan sa Spotify,

May 17, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Video does NOT show PCG chasing Vietnamese boat in Palawan

A video posted on YouTube used an old clip and claimed to show the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) driving away a Vietnamese fishing vessel in Palawan. This is false. Shown in the video were Indonesian authorities confronting a Vietnamese vessel illegally fishing

May 17, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: British Royal Navy NOT attacking trespassers in West Philippine Sea

Two YouTube videos are claiming that the United Kingdom’s (U.K.) Royal Navy will now rush to defend the West Philippine Sea after President Ferdinand Marcos attended the coronation of King Charles III. This is not true. The two false videos were published

May 16, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: 10k Chinese soldiers NOT killed in Taiwan

A four-month-old YouTube video recently uploaded on Facebook (FB) claims that 10,000 Chinese soldiers were killed and 150 fighter jets were destroyed in Taiwan. This is not true. The publishers made a clickbait headline and introduction to mislead netizens. The deceitful videos

May 15, 2023

Institutions

De Lima’s 3rd case: Dead men tell no tales

Already acquitted twice, how will the third case against Leila de Lima prosper? In the third case, docketed as Case Number 17-167 in the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court 256 under Judge Romeo Buenaventura, De Lima is charged for drugs conspiracy with then

May 15, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: FAKE photo used to claim that PH Navy fired at Chinese ships

A video on Facebook (FB) used an altered photo to claim that the Philippine Navy recently fired at Chinese vessels illegally fishing on the West Philippine Sea. No such incident took place. The original photo was taken as part of a weapons

May 15, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Badoy repeats misleading claim on 2015 SC ruling

Justifying the red-tagging of activists and electric cooperatives as members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), its military arm, the New People’s Army (NPA), and the coalition of progressive groups, the National Democratic Front (NDF), Lorraine Badoy repeats a misleading

May 14, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: SMNI anchor makes BASELESS claims that PhilStar.com editor, NUJP were part of CPP-NPA-NDF

Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) anchor Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz’s claim that Jonathan De Santos, editor of PhilStar.com, was “active in the underground operations” of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) has no

May 14, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: ‘Dr. Kilimanguru’ is NOT endorsing dried fruit cereal

Five fake Facebook (FB) pages are using the name of licensed physician Kilimanjaro Tiwaquen, also known by his social media moniker Dr. Kilimanguru, to promote a dried fruit cereal. “Edited din ‘yan (that is also edited),” Tiwaquen answered after a netizen asked

May 14, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: FB Reel of ‘tsunami in Indonesia’ NEEDS CONTEXT

A Filipino netizen posted a Facebook (FB) Reel allegedly showing a tsunami in Indonesia. This needs context because the clip came from a movie. This FB Reel appeared on May 1, a week after a magnitude 7.3 earthquake rocked west of Indonesia’s

May 13, 2023