FACT CHECK: Fake Quote Card Falsely Attributes Anti-OFW Criticism to CDO Congressman Suan

Filipino Lawmaker Denies Making Disparaging Statements About OFWs

A viral social media post falsely attributed disparaging statements about overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Cagayan de Oro 1st District Representative Lordan Suan, his office confirmed this week.

The fabricated quote card, which has garnered more than 2,000 engagements on Facebook, showed Suan allegedly criticizing OFWs who participated in a “zero remittance week” protest, stating: “I’m very disappointed in the OFWs participating in zero remittance week. You do not deserve to be called modern-day heroes.”

Upon investigation, Suan’s office categorically denied the congressman ever made such remarks. The fabricated statement appears to reference a campaign reportedly initiated by supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who encouraged OFWs to temporarily halt remittances to the Philippines in protest of Duterte’s arrest and detention related to International Criminal Court proceedings.

The misleading content was posted by a Facebook page called “Birada Kagay-an,” which has established a pattern of creating and disseminating false quote cards attributed to the congressman. The post featured images of Suan alongside former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and protesters holding pro-Duterte banners, creating a misleading impression of authenticity.

This is not the first instance of Suan being targeted by the same disinformation operation. In March, the lawmaker publicly addressed similar fabricated content from the same source, warning constituents about the page’s deliberate attempts to spread misinformation.

“The image spread by the page Birada Kagay-an is manipulated content created to spread fake news and misinformation on social media,” Suan stated in a previous clarification post.

The ongoing campaign against the congressman appears to be part of a broader pattern of political disinformation. Earlier this year, Suan was also the subject of false claims that he had been disqualified from the 2025 elections.

Political analysts note that the targeting of Suan may be linked to his vote to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte in February 2025, as previous disinformation campaigns intensified following that controversial vote. The fabricated statements about OFWs seem designed to damage his reputation among a constituency that highly values the contributions of overseas workers.

The incident highlights the growing challenge of political disinformation in the Philippines, where social media platforms have become battlegrounds for political narratives. With approximately 10 million Filipinos working abroad and sending billions in remittances annually, OFW issues remain politically sensitive and economically significant for the country.

Digital rights advocates have called for stronger platform accountability and media literacy initiatives to combat the spread of such fabricated content. Meanwhile, Suan has urged his constituents to verify information through official channels and report deceptive pages engaged in spreading false information.

The congressman emphasized the importance of critical information consumption, encouraging citizens to rely on official government sources and verified news outlets for credible updates rather than unverified social media posts.

As the 2025 election cycle approaches, fact-checkers and media organizations are preparing for an expected increase in similar disinformation campaigns targeting political figures across the Philippine political spectrum.