Let’s unravel the tumultuous events that unfolded in the Philippines Senate on May 13th, a day that spiraled into a maelstrom of confusion, fear, and widespread disinformation. What began as an isolated incident quickly escalated into a national spectacle, fueled by opportunistic politicians and social media accounts eager to sow discord. The narrative, as it often does, diverged sharply from the truth, propelled by false claims of mass casualties and even an assassination attempt, all intricately linked to the heated political climate surrounding an impeachment effort and a shift in Senate leadership. It’s a prime example of how quickly misinformation can take root, especially in an environment charged with political tension, and how crucial it is to fact-check and rely on verified sources.
The epicenter of this chaos was Congressman Kiko Barzaga, a figure who, immediately after the Senate shooting, became a central conduit for unverified and ultimately false information. In a now-deleted Facebook post that Wednesday night, Barzaga sensationally reported “multiple dead after gunfight within Senate building.” This alarming claim, however, was swiftly contradicted by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who, after personally assessing the situation at the Senate, confirmed that there were no reported casualties. While Barzaga later corrected his statement, acknowledging the absence of fatalities, the damage was already done. His initial, incendiary post, despite its brief online life, was captured and weaponized by various Facebook and TikTok accounts, including prominent Duterte loyalist Krizette Chu. These accounts, eager to capitalize on the unfolding drama, proliferated screenshots of Barzaga’s original claim, effectively cementing the false narrative of multiple deaths in the public consciousness and illustrating the viral nature of disinformation once it’s released into the digital ether.
Barzaga didn’t stop at false casualty reports. He further escalated the situation with a self-recorded video from the Senate premises, dramatically titled “Meow Meow Vlog: Senate Assassination Attempt.” In this video, he audaciously claimed an “unsuccessful” attempt to “kill a few senators to force a change in Senate leadership.” His accompanying remark, “Mukhang excited na sila sa impeachment kaya lahat ginagawa na nila” (It seems they are excited about the impeachment so they’re doing everything they can), directly implicated political rivals, suggesting that the alleged assassination attempt was a desperate maneuver to influence the ongoing impeachment proceedings. This narrative was then amplified and further distorted by another staunch Duterte propagandist, Lorraine Badoy. Hours later, in a separate Facebook post, Badoy went a step further, brazenly accusing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of orchestrating this supposed assassination attempt, alleging his motive was to “change the [Senate] majority.” These unsubstantiated claims, coming from figures with significant public platforms, painted a picture of deep-seated political intrigue and danger, stirring public fear and distrust in the highest levels of government.
The real incident that sparked this firestorm was far less dramatic, though still unsettling. The Senate premises had been placed under lockdown earlier that Wednesday, a few hours after Senator Bato dela Rosa failed to secure immediate relief from the Supreme Court for his petition to block an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him. The trigger for the shooting incident itself was a warning shot fired by Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mau Aplasca, aimed at a National Bureau of Investigation agent. This detail, confirmed by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro the following morning, sharply contrasts with the elaborate assassination plots concocted by Barzaga and Badoy. President Marcos Jr. further clarified that there were no standing orders from the executive branch to arrest Dela Rosa, dispelling any notion of a government-sanctioned operation against the senator. This stark difference between reality and the rampant speculation highlights the dangerous potential of political opportunism to distort events and manipulate public perception, especially when figures in positions of influence choose to prioritize sensationalism over facts.
The political backdrop against which these events unfolded is crucial for understanding the prevailing tensions. Senator Bato dela Rosa, a former Philippine police chief and a staunch ally of former President Duterte, had made a conspicuous return to the Senate on Monday, May 11th. This reappearance followed a months-long absence and coincided with a significant shift in the Senate leadership: Tito Sotto was ousted as Senate President, and Alan Peter Cayetano was elected in his place. Remarkably, this change of guard in the upper chamber occurred on the very same day that the House of Representatives initiated a second impeachment proceeding against Vice President Sara Duterte, alleging wrongdoing including corruption. Dela Rosa, despite the Wednesday night shooting incident, remained within the Senate premises, only departing the complex later that evening, as confirmed by a credible Rappler source. This intricate web of interlocking political maneuvers, from leadership changes to impeachment attempts, provided fertile ground for conspiracy theories and rapid-fire disinformation, demonstrating how deeply intertwined political power plays can become with the spread of false narratives during times of instability.
In response to the escalating spread of disinformation and the potential for real-world harm, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in collaboration with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), issued a stern warning. DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, in a video statement released on Thursday, May 14th, affirmed that both the CICC and DICT were actively monitoring social media posts and would not tolerate the dissemination of disinformation or content intended to sow harm. He emphasized that “Whoever is found to have spread disinformation and harm online will not be tolerated by the CICC and proper sanctions will be implemented.” Aguda’s statement served as a crucial call to action, urging the public to exercise caution and to rely solely on legitimate, official sources for information. He underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, “In a time of tension and dread, there is no space for fake news and unverified information, edited videos and misleading posts that add to the confusion and fear of the public.” This authoritative stance highlighted the government’s commitment to combating the detrimental effects of online falsehoods and underscored the collective responsibility to safeguard truth and promote accuracy, especially when public trust and national stability are at stake.