Duterte supporters to deactivate their FB accounts once its partnership with Rappler and VERA Files push through
Supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte are planning to deactivate their Facebook accounts following its partnership with Rappler and VERA Files for its third party fact-checking program.
VERA Files, an independent non-stock nonprofit media organization, announced its partnership with Facebook and Rappler last April 13.
Based on the article published in Inquirer, VERA Files is the “first Philippine fact-checking organization certified through the nonpartisan International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter.”
According to the organization, “the program aims to help combat false news from spreading on Facebook. Third-party fact checkers like VERA Files will review news stories on Facebook, check their facts and rate their accuracy.”
This partnership between these three social media entities is being disagreed by many Diehard Duterte Supporters (DDS).
One of them is singer Jimmy Bondoc who expressed his grievances against the said partnership.
Bondoc said on his post, which has been deleted but blogger Tony Cruz was able to share the screen shot on Twitter that if the partnership will really happen he will petition nationwide to delete Facebook.
Aside from him, Atty. Paula Defensor Knack, sister of the late Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who is also a DDS, expressed on her Facebook account that her fellow Duterte supporters are planning to transfer to other social media platform.
“I am closing my FB account. I am nothing to let Yellows fact check me or suspend my account. NO WAY ! My followers will follow me anyway,” wrote Atty. Knack. “Learning from me is FREE. We have talked to other DDS bloggers as well and they will also open new social media accounts there in the new platform,” she said on her post.
She also posted encouragement to her fellow DDS to deactivate their FB accounts.
On the other hand, there are some DDS who will keep their FB accounts active, such as PCOO Asec. Mocha Uson, Sass Rogando Sasot and RJ Nieto of Thinking Pinoy, based on the article.
Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, Undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) lauded the partnership; however, she protested Facebook’s choice of fact-checkers.
https://www.facebook.com/lorraine.badoy/posts/10156291352349834