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The misleading claim that Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has replaced Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla as the Philippines’ Ombudsman is circulating on social media, prompting fact-checkers to debunk the false information.
A YouTube video published by the channel “News Update Files” on November 20 has garnered over 23,000 views and 130 comments, with a misleading thumbnail showing Cayetano supposedly being sworn in as the new Ombudsman. The thumbnail contains text reading “New Ombudsman! Cayetano nanumpa na (sworn in)?” while the channel claims in its description to deliver “clarity, insight, and visual storytelling” that aims to “inform, inspire, and keep every Filipino updated.”
Despite these bold claims in the video’s title and thumbnail, the content itself never substantiates the assertion that Cayetano has replaced Remulla. The 45-minute video only briefly mentions Remulla at the three-minute mark, where the narrator challenges Remulla’s claim of having allegedly seen a copy of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Senator Bato dela Rosa.
The facts reveal a different reality. Remulla currently serves as the Philippines’ Ombudsman, having been officially appointed on October 7 and sworn in on October 9. He will serve a seven-year term that extends until 2032. Prior to his appointment, Remulla headed the Department of Justice, succeeding former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who retired in July after being appointed during the Duterte administration.
Meanwhile, Alan Peter Cayetano continues to serve as the Senate Minority Leader in the 20th Congress, not as the Ombudsman as falsely suggested.
This misleading content exemplifies a common tactic used by content creators who employ attention-grabbing, clickbait titles to increase views and engagement. The YouTube channel that posted the video has a history of using similar misleading language in other videos.
The Office of the Ombudsman plays a critical role in the Philippine government’s accountability system, exercising broad investigative and special prosecutorial powers to act upon complaints against erring public officials. Remulla’s appointment comes at a significant time, as the government intensifies its efforts to combat corruption in flood control projects.
Since taking office, Remulla has announced plans to form a task force investigating flood control projects allegedly linked to the Villar family and to reinvestigate the controversial war on drugs that characterized the previous administration. In a departure from his predecessor’s policies, Remulla has also reversed an order that limited public access to officials’ Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, signaling a potential shift toward greater transparency.
The spread of this misinformation highlights the ongoing challenge of combating disinformation in the Philippines, where social media platforms are often used to disseminate false or misleading information about government officials and institutions. Fact-checking initiatives continue to play an essential role in identifying and correcting such falsehoods before they can mislead the public.
The case serves as a reminder for social media users to verify information from official government sources and established news organizations rather than relying on unverified claims from content creators whose primary motivation may be generating views and engagement rather than accurate reporting.
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10 Comments
This appears to be another case of disinformation spreading online. I commend the fact-checkers for debunking the false claim about Cayetano replacing Remulla as Ombudsman. Verifying information before sharing is so important these days.
Interesting clarification on the Ombudsman situation. It’s important to have accurate information and not spread misleading claims, especially on government positions. I appreciate fact-checkers working to dispel false narratives.
This video seems to be making some unsupported claims about the Ombudsman transition. I’m glad the reports could provide more clarity on the actual status quo. It’s crucial that we rely on verified information from reputable sources.
It’s disappointing to see misinformation spreading about the Ombudsman position. I appreciate the efforts to provide the factual details and correct the record. Verifying information is crucial, especially for important government roles.
This seems like another case of online rumors and false claims gaining traction. I’m glad the reports could clarify that Remulla remains the Ombudsman, not Cayetano. Relying on verified information is so important these days.
It’s concerning to see misinformation circulating about the Ombudsman position. I’m glad the reports could clarify that Remulla is still in office. Maintaining accurate information on government leadership is so important.
This seems like another case of false claims being amplified on social media. I appreciate the fact-checkers working to set the record straight that Cayetano has not replaced Remulla as Ombudsman. Relying on verified information is key.
It’s concerning to see misleading information circulating about such an important government role. I’m glad the facts could set the record straight that Remulla remains the current Ombudsman. Maintaining transparency in public office is critical.
While the video makes some bold claims, it’s good to see the actual facts confirm that Remulla is still serving as Ombudsman. I appreciate efforts to combat the spread of misleading narratives, especially around government leadership.
Misleading claims about government leadership are concerning, but I’m glad to see the reports clarifying the actual status of the Ombudsman role. Fact-checking is so important to ensure we have accurate information.