A week before the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman opened classes, two YouTube videos falsely claimed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte had shut down the university. This is not true.
Uploaded on Aug. 23, the video’s headline read:
“SARADO NA UP-DlLlMAN, Grabe ang UTOS ni PBBM at VPSARA, mga UP STUDENTS, Nag-alsa BALUTAN na.. (UP Diliman is closed down! What a harsh order from PBBM and VP Sara. UP students packed their belongings)!!”
Its thumbnail featured photos of Marcos, Duterte and Kabataan Party-List Rep. Raoul Manuel, along with the text:
“TAGUMPAY! SARADO NA! MGA UP STUDENTS NAG-ALSABALUTAN NA (Success! Now closed! UP students packed their belongings)!”
This claim is false. Neither Marcos nor Duterte have given orders to shutter UP Diliman. The flagship campus of the UP System is set to begin academic year 2023-2024 on Sept. 12.
The video is merely a clickbait to an unrelated video that discussed opinions about reimposing the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program and the passage of the Maharlika Investment Fund Act.
The erroneous clip emerged several days after the Budget department submitted to Congress the proposed 2024 national budget, which showed a P2.9-billion cut for the UP System.
Uploaded by YouTube channels PINAS VIRAL NEWS and later by AI TOO KAYE, the false video has received 14,023 views and 749 likes. Facebook users reposted the links.
VERA Files Fact Check has previously debunked claims on UP Diliman getting closed down several times.
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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.)
