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

‘Nagpatay-patayan ako’ – VERA Files

Nagpatay-patayan si Efren Morillo para makaligtas sa Oplan Tokhang noong 2016. ‘Yung apat na kasama niya patay lahat. Pinaghinalaan silang nagdodroga. Kamakailan lang, sabi ng korte hindi siya nanlaban. Pero bakit s’ya binaril? Pitong taon na ang nakaraan, naghahanap pa rin ng

May 9, 2023

Institutions

No decision on bail but de Lima a picture of strength and optimism

No decision on bail but de Lima a picture of strength and optimism 1/10 Photo by Bullit Marquez for VERA Files There was no decision on her petition for bail. But former Sen. Leila de Lima, who has been in detention for

May 8, 2023

Institutions

338 kg of shabu still missing from P6.7B haul

More than six months have passed and the police have yet to locate some 338 kilograms of shabu stolen by operatives of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) during an operation in Manila. While thousands of suspected drug users have

May 8, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Videos do NOT show zombie outbreaks in China, India

A couple of videos published by a Facebook (FB) user supposedly featuring zombie outbreaks in China and India continue to circulate almost a month after they first appeared. There are no zombie outbreaks occurring in these two countries.The videos that emerged on

May 8, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: LTO Chief flip-flops on contingency plan for shortage of license plates

Amid the anticipated shortage in the supply of license plates for motorcycles and cars, Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Jose Arturo “Jay Art” Tugade backtracked on his initial statement that vehicle owners may “create” a plate number to address the shortage issue.

May 7, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Video shows Japan coast guard in Tokyo, NOT Batangas

A YouTube channel passed off an old clip of a drill as one that supposedly shows the Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) sending ships lately to Pag-asa Island to drive away Chinese vessels. This is false. The video is five years old and

May 7, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Doc Willie Ong NOT selling pesticide, ALTERED photos used

Scammers are again using the identity of cardiologist Dr. Willie Ong to fraudulently promote unlicensed products, this time for pesticide. The advertisements continue to circulate this May, over two weeks since first appearing on April 18. Part of the text of one

May 7, 2023

Institutions

Santiago Bose: Unravelling an artistic world

Spirited Traces, the third and last series of the Santiago Bose exhibition project by Silverlens Galleries, runs until May 20, 2023. The first one, Bare Necessities, opened in 2019, followed by Striking Affinities in 2021, with Patrick Flores as curator of the

May 6, 2023

Institutions

Conference highlights role of the press in social media and disinformation age

GMA News reporter and program emcee JP Soriano with veteran journalists Joseph Morong, Karmina Constantino and Miriam Grace Go at the McLuhan forum Amid the rising prevalence of social media and the persisting dilemma of disinformation, aspiring journalists are reminded that the

May 6, 2023

Institutions

VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Biden did NOT cry at meeting with Marcos in the US

A video on YouTube is erroneously claiming that United States President Joseph Biden burst into tears as he welcomed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos to the White House this week. This is not true. On May 1, a YouTube channel published a video

May 6, 2023