Charles Teves
A pro-administration Twitter user has falsely claimed that former vice president Leni Robredo arrived at the Department of Social Welfare and Development unannounced.
The user, Hars Lingayan of De La Salle University who referred to Robredo as ‘MADUMB,’ said that DSWD employees were “dismayed” with her visit.
“Credit to @MacLopez769. Ok, so here is the supposed back story of the MADUMB visit to DSWD, as relayed by sources from DSWD mismo na super dismayed dito sa incident,” Lingayan wrote.
“It appears that MADUMB sashayed into the DSWD unannounced and without [an] appointment!” she added.
Robredo visited the DSWD central office on August 26 to extend help using her Angat Buhay foundation’s calamity and natural disasters program.
Lingayan said Secretary Erwin Tulfo was caught “off guard and cornered” and that Robredo brought a photographer.
“Grabe, is she really this thick-faced and so brazen? As in walang appointment? Kapalmuks talaga,”
away the moment na Secretary Tulfo appeared.
Grabe, is she really this thick-faced and so brazen? As in walang appointment?
Kapalmuks talaga.
— Hara Lingayan 🇵🇭🏹 #Unbowed (@HLingayan) August 27, 2022
Prior to the visit, Robredo wrote Tulfo a formal letter for a courtesy visit.
The truth: We wrote a formal letter addressed to Secretary Tulfo requesting for a courtesy visit. The OSEC staff got in touch with us and gave us a schedule. I went with Angat Buhay ED Raffy Magno. Not one photographer from us.
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) August 29, 2022
Robredo also rejected the claim that she brought a photographer. Her visit was accompanied by Angat Buhay Executive Director Raffy Magno.
“The only photographer present was the DSWD photographer. We just shared Sec Erwin Tulfo’s Facebook post,” Robredo tweeted.
The only photographer present was the DSWD photographer. We just shared Sec Erwin Tulfo’s facebook post. Stop spreading fake news.
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) August 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/raffymagno/status/1564542843544166401?s=20&t=IFjsc9fsPl_gQcLrLcWk4g
ABS-CBN news reporter Jervis Manahan, who was also present, said that a source informed them of Robredo’s visit.
“The courtesy call happened in the Secretary’s office on the building’s third floor,” the Manahan noted.
FACT CHECK: We were in DSWD for a press conference about educational assistance at the same time former VP @lenirobredo made a courtesy call to Secretary Tulfo. Before the presscon, a source told us Atty. Robredo will be visiting, but it is NOT for media coverage. https://t.co/LHfIhzF5FW
— Jervis Manahan (@JervisManahan) August 30, 2022
Tulfo himself told Anthony Taberna that Robredo formally requested a visit.
DSWD Sec. Tulfo sa pagbisita ni dating VP Robredo sa ahensya: “Opo. Nagpa-appointment po siya [para bumisita sa DSWD] at tinanggap naman po nating ang kanyang appointment as Angat Buhay representative. Alam naman ho natin na isang foundation ito” https://t.co/ksqmRew7uz pic.twitter.com/v1MkQpGUy4
— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) August 30, 2022
Ever since becoming vice president, Robredo has experienced all sorts of fake news against her and her family. Trolls elevated their activity during the last campaign season.
https://twitter.com/Simply_Clinton/status/1564246559629271041?s=20&t=JGLH2bxSacLJQSmQPWM9Zg
Some said that the recent attack on Robredo is only to distract the public from the upcoming hike on jeepney fare and salt.
https://twitter.com/znsuzara/status/1564467997216870401?s=20&t=sH_oPkgicxGQGPmaa2KMRQ
Aside from spreading fake news, trolls have also successfully convinced the unintelligent that Robredo had accomplished nothing during her time in office.
