FALSE

As the Philippines headed into the final week of campaigning for the May 9 presidential election, social media posts shared thousands of times claimed the government pledged to give cash handouts to all voters. However, the rumour originated from a Facebook page impersonating the country’s social welfare agency. A representative for the agency said it was not doling out cash to voters.

“P10K aid for all voters / Message us so we can send you the financial aid immediately,” reads a Tagalog-language graphic posted on Facebook on April 27 and shared more than 15,000 times.

It features the logo of the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and photos of a man and woman flaunting 1,000-peso bills.

Read the full story on AFP Fact Check.

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AFP launched its digital verification service in France in 2017 and has grown to become the leading global fact-checking organisation, with dedicated journalists in countries from the United States to the Philippines. Our journalists monitor online content in local languages. They take into account local cultures, languages and politics and work with AFP’s bureaus worldwide to investigate and disprove false information, focusing on items that can be harmful, impactful and manipulative.