A Twitter user posted a screenshot of Rappler’s story with the title “Duterte to appoint Nikki Prieto-Teodoro as DSWD chief” and accused the news site of spreading fake news.
“Now tell me sino ang nagpapakalat ng fake news?” said Twitter user @iamrickbaltazar.
Now tell me sino ang nagpapakalat ng fake news? @rapplerdotcom @MochaUson @MochaUsonOFC pic.twitter.com/pxB7C8aBp3
— Federick Baltazar ✌️ (@iamrickbaltazar) August 17, 2017
Other netizens also made the same accusations against Rappler.
I find Rappler’s propensity for publishing fake news really disturbing. Don’t bother searching for the article, they already deleted it! https://t.co/y8YyBvTTN1
— Carlo Malonzo 🇵🇭 (@carlo1em) August 17, 2017
its a fake news thus rappler has to take it down.
— attyselyn (@ladyshellane) August 17, 2017
If it’s fake, it’s from Rappler #FakeNews makes Pia healthy pic.twitter.com/iFyhA04e0d
— TinaSanPedroDacayo (@juzcruisin) August 16, 2017
@notty_romero also wondered whether Rappler deleted the article.
Did @rapplerdotcom just deleted the story? @piaranada pic.twitter.com/diMkOSIO9J
— arnold cesar romero (@notty_romero) August 16, 2017
To this, Rappler replied with an apology and a short explanation behind the removal of the article.
“Rappler apologizes for mistakenly publishing a draft of a story that was still being verified,” Rappler tweeted.
Rappler apologizes for mistakenly publishing a draft of a story that was still being verified.
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) August 16, 2017
Rappler also urged their readers to visit their “Corrections” page for their August 2017 reports.
You can still find the headline of the story on Google, but you will be redirected to a relevant story about the Commission on Appointments rejecting the appointment of Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo on August 16.
In the article, the editor’s note once again apologized for their mistake, reasoning that they are still verifying the contents of the now deleted post.
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“Editors’ Note: In relation to this report, Rappler apologizes for mistakenly publishing the draft of a story – “Duterte to appoint Nikki Prieto-Teodoro as DSWD chief” – that was still being verified. We have taken down the post,” the note said.
Monica Louise “Nikki” Prieto-Teodoro is the wife of former Arroyo defense chief Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, a former lawmaker. She recently turned over a deed of donation to Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Eduardo Año at the Malacañang Palace, a meeting that was also witnessed by President Duterte.
Aside from the netizens, Duterte supporter Sass Rogando Sassot also called out the ‘fake news’ from Rappler’s reporter, Pia Ranada Robles.
“Fake news by Pia Ranada Robles aying that Duterte intends to appoint Nikki Prieto-Teodoro as DSWD sec. Rappler already deleted it, but not fast enough to prevent google cache from saving a copy,” she wrote.
Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson shared Sasot’s post and urged the mainstream media to call out Rappler and Ranada for spreading fake news.
“Noong tayo po ay nagkamali at kahit nag erratum pinag pyestahan pa rin ng Mainstream Media. Eto kayang pagkakamali ni PIA RANADA ng RAPPLER ay papansinin ng mainstream media??? CALLING MAINSTEAM MEDIA- GMA News ABS-CBN News News5 CNN Philippines INQUIRER.net Anong masasabi ninyo dito?” Uson said in her Facebook post.
Uson also dared mainstream media to prove that they are not biased.
“Hindi niyo ba iinterviewhin si PIA RANADA? At tatanungin kung bakit nagpapakalat siya ng FAKE NEWS na tulad ng ginawa ninyo sa akin? PATUNAYAN NIYONG HINDI KAYO BIASED,” she added.
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