MABALACAT CITY — An aspiring councilor in this city has condemned the dissemination of fake news and disinformation of web-based publication iOrbit News Online.
In a statement, councilorable Ralph ‘Basti’ David, said iOrbit has been publishing false accusations aimed at damaging the reputation of Mayor Cris Garbo.
David emphasized his stand against manipulation and deceit: “Stop manipulating surveys and using autolikes. We all know autolikes exist, and we know which newspapers are paid for. It’s obvious that you are just spreading false accusations.”
“Hindi ninyo maloloko ang mga Mabalaqueños. Sa mga may kredibilidad na survey, si MCG ay hindi bumababa sa 65 porsyento ng approval rating at pumapalo pa ng 70 plus percent kahit noong kasagsagan ng inyong paninira—kasabay ng kaso na isinampa (niyo) na nadismiss rin,” he further asserted.
David also pointed out that iOrbit has a history of using black propaganda in the past two elections. David added that in 2019, the online publication published a story claiming an alleged pre-election survey conducted by students of the University of Assumption and DHVTSU, which were denied by the said schools.
In that 2019 survey, iOrbit ran a story which purportedly show that Christian Halili was ahead over Garbo in the disputed survey.
In 2022, iOrbit published another report claiming a “close fight” between then councilorable Diosdado “Deng” Pangilinan, iOrbit’s publisher, and Garbo.
“However, election results showed Garbo winning with 66,151 votes against Pangilinan’s embarrassing 2,985 votes,” David said in his statement.
David warned that such practices are damaging not only the reputation of their targets but also the credibility of their own industry.
“You are destroying the image of the media industry and your own publication. All I remember is that you once praised Mayor Garbo when he visited your mother,” he said.
David called on genuine media practitioners to uphold truthful and responsible journalism, and to cease the spread of lies and character assassination that tarnish the integrity of the media industry.
Pampanga News Now reached iOrbit’s publisher Pangilinan but declined to give any comment.
