Facebook posts have repeatedly shared a purported news graphic stating the Philippine capital Manila and four neighboring provinces were placed under “heightened Covid restriction” shortly after the May presidential elections. This is false: the image in the posts had been digitally altered from an old news graphic. Manila and its four neighboring provinces remain under the lowest pandemic restrictions as of May 19, 2022.
The image was posted on Facebook on May 13.
It purports to show a Tagalog-language news graphic from broadcaster GMA News that translates as: “GCQ / GENERAL COMMUNITY QUARANTINE WITH HEIGHTENED RESTRICTIONS / STARTING MAY 15 TO MAY 31, 2022 / METRO MANILA / BULACAN / CAVITE / LAGUNA / RIZAL”.
The post circulated online days after the presidential election on May 9 that Ferdinand Marcos Jr — son of the late dictator — won in a landslide.
Read the full story on AFP Fact Check.
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Fake: Circulating graphic claiming NCR, nearby areas placed under GCQ with heightened restrictions