Multiple posts inviting the public to apply for a LandBank scholarship have been shared again on Facebook last month. One such post on June 23 had generated 5,600 reactions and 23,000 shares as of June 28.
The posts, coming from Philippine Gov Update, are fake.
As early as February 27, the LandBank had warned against “scammers lurking online offering fake LANDBANK scholarships.” It said the bank only has one official scholarship program, the Iskolar ng LANDBANK Program or ILP.
The fake posts claimed that scholars will receive the following benefits: P10,000 (college), P9,000 (senior high school), P8,000 (high school), and P7,000 (elementary). It added that the deadline for applications is on July 15.
In the same post on its website on February 27, the LandBank said the screening and application process of the ILP scholars for SY 2023-2024 ended last November 15, 2023, and there is no schedule yet for the screening process for SY 2024-2025. “The SY 2024 – 2025 screening process shall be officially announced through LANDBANK’s official channels,” it said.
In addition, the ILP “will benefit underprivileged but deserving students from LANDBANK’s mandated sectors — particularly children or grandchildren of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), and small farmers and fishers.”
The fake posts provided a link that web browser Firefox has blocked as a “deceptive site,” as it may lead the user into doing “something dangerous like installing software or revealing personal information like passwords or credit cards.”
Philippine Gov Update, which claims to be a government organization, was created on June 18 but already had 13,000 followers as of June 28.
FACT CHECK | Post on transfer of voters from Balingasag, Misamis Oriental to CDO fabricated
MindaNews fact-checked a Facebook post by CDO News Today that thousands of residents from Balingasag, Misamis Oriental have registered as voters in Cagayan de Oro City. The post was based on a supposed investigation by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) – Cagayan de Oro First District based on an alleged petition submitted to the electoral body. The post is fake.
On July 18, the Facebook page CDO News Today posted an item in Cebuano saying that thousands of voters from Balingasag, Misamis Oriental have registered in Barangay Carmen in Cagayan de Oro City.
The post reads:
“LIBOAN KA MGA BAG-ONG NAGPA REHISTRO SA BRGY. CARMEN, NASUTA NGA LUMULUPYO SA BALINGASAG, MISAMIS ORIENTAL!
“Basi sa inisyal nga imbestigasyon ni COMELEC First District Election Officer Atty. Joel Dexter Nagtalon, nasuta nga pipila sa mga bag-ong rehistro sa Brgy. Carmen lumulupyo sa Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. Kini nadiskobre human nga pipila ka mga complainants ang nagpasa ug petition letter ngadto sa COMELEC mahitungod sa mga newly registered voters nga kuno wala gapuyo sa maong barangay. Dumduman nga si Former Mayor Oscar Moreno lumad sa maong munisipyo.”
(Translation: THOUSANDS OF NEW REGISTRANTS IN BARANGAY CARMEN WERE CONFIRMED TO BE RESIDENTS OF BALINGASAG, MISAMIS ORIENTAL!
Based on the initial investigation by Comelec First District Election Officer Atty. Joel Dexter Nagtalon, it was confirmed that several of the new registrants in Barangay Carmen are residents of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. This was discovered after several complainants submitted a petition letter to the Comelec about the newly registered voters who are allegedly not residing in the said barangay. It may be recalled that former mayor Oscar Moreno is a native of said municipality.)
The item was accompanied by a pubmat with the photo of Nagtalon superimposed on a summons supposedly signed by him.
As of July 22, the fake post generated 126 reactions, 52 comments and 271 shares. Facebook page CDO News Today has 5,900 followers and 5,800 likes.
But the Comelec Cagayan de Oro First District, in a disclaimer posted on its Facebook page on July 18, said the post is fake.
“This information regarding thousands of newly transferred applicants from Balingasag, Misamis Oriental to Brgy. Carmen of this city posted by CDO News Today’s Facebook page, is entirely fictitious and fabricated. There has been no such report or statement from Atty. Joel Dexter C. Nagtalon, City Election Officer, OEO-CDO, 1st District. This disclaimer is issued to clarify that the mentioned details are false and not based on any factual events or statements,” the local Comelec office said.
Moreno, who hails from Balingasag, served as Cagayan de Oro mayor from 2013 to 2022. He is also a former congressman and governor of Misamis Oriental.
Moreno and incumbent Cagayan de Oro Mayor Rolando Uy used to be allies. But the former is said to be planning to run again for the city’s top post in 2025.
As with all our other reports, MindaNews welcomes leads or suggestions from the public to potential fact-check stories. (H. Marcos C. Mordeno / MindaNews)
