A message warning residents in Mindanao about a supposed war during the next Ramadan is circulating on Facebook (FB) and private messaging applications. This is a false report that has been shared online as early as 2017.
Shared hours after the Dec. 3 Mindanao State University (MSU) bombing, the post further claimed that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and ISIS have declared a war in certain areas in Mindanao.
A part of the post read:
“RED ALERT. MSU Saguiaran Baloi Iligan Malabang Butig Lumbatan Pantar Piagapo Cagayan Davao Labangan Pagadian Tukuran Please do inform all Muslim/Christian sa mga lugar na nabanggit kasi nagdeclare ang MILF at ISIS ng 2nd war dahilan sa BBL. I repeat inform all the Muslim and Christian and relatives na maging alerto sa anumang oras kasi magkakaroon ng 2ND WAR this coming RAMADAN. Please kung may load kayo share this message as soon as possible
(Please do inform all Muslims/Christians in the areas mentioned because the MILF and ISIS have declared a 2nd war because of the BBL. I repeat inform all the Muslims and Christians and relatives to be alert at any time because there will be a 2ND WAR this coming RAMADAN. Please if you have load share this message as soon as possible).”
This is not true. Representatives from the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) previously denied such reports.
On April 20, 2020, the Philippine Army’s 103rd Infantry “Haribon” Brigade released a statement on FB calling the message untrue.
“There is no truth in the message below that has been circulating these days. It is FAKE NEWS. This message has already circulated since 2017 to create panic to the public. 2LT DANIEL PEDREGOSA does not exist in the Armed Forces. Do not be fooled by this kind of untruthful information,” a part of the statement said.
The 12th Civil-Military Operations “Kapatiran” Battalion and the Task Force Bangon Marawi’s FB pages reposted the same advisory.
The Zamboanga Sibugay Police Provincial Office (ZSBPPO) recently issued a statement further debunking the revived post.
“We discourage the proliferation of messages which has (sic) been scattered in the social media so as not to create panic to the public. Do not share any threat to civilian but instead make it known to the proper authorities,” ZSPPO Police Captain Lynneth Nacionales said, according to a Dec. 4 PIA Zamboanga Sibugay update.
The message circulated anew after the bomb explosion inside MSU’s Dimaporo Gym that killed four people and injured 50. On Dec. 6, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced the arrest of one of the suspects.
The AFP is also validating the claim made by the terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) that they are responsible for the incident.
The erroneous post resurfaced shortly after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos signed two proclamations granting amnesty to the members of the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front and allowing them access to socio-economic services.
A fake quote card on Christians being unwelcome in Marawi also circulated after the bombing incident. (Read BARMM official DID NOT say ‘Christians are unwelcome in Marawi’)
Social media monitoring tool CrowdTangle detected at least 33 public posts carrying the message in FB groups such as such as DUH (created on May 20, 2023 as Sweet message), HILASON (Oct. 20, 2022) and RPW: BISAYA TAMBAYAN (Mar 12, 2023). Several private users also reposted it as status updates.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
