?:reviewBody
|
-
In the lead-up to the Philippines' presidential election in May, a video of one of the candidates -- Vice President Leni Robredo -- has been viewed thousands of times in social media posts that claim it shows the presidential aspirant forgetting the title of her favourite book. However, the claim is false. The video is a clip from an interview conducted by the Philippine news outlet Rappler, and Robredo can be heard saying her favourite book is the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The journalist who conducted the interview has also rebutted the claim that Robredo was unable to recall the book's title. The video has been viewed more than 13,000 times since it was shared here on Facebook on March 29. The video, which circulated ahead of the Philippines' presidential election on May 9, shows Robredo being interviewed by a journalist from the news outlet Rappler. 'What is your Favorite book of all time, do you have any or you can name a few favorites if it's difficult to choose one?' - Rappler, reads the post's English and Tagalog caption. She only described the book since she could not remember, it adds. A screenshot of the false post on Facebook, taken on March 30, 2022. Throughout the election campaign, Robredo has been a major target of false and misleading online posts -- often spread by supporters of her rival for the top job, Ferdinand Marcos Jr -- that aim to portray the incumbent vice president as stupid. Nationwide polls suggest she is trailing Marcos Jr by a wide margin. The video purporting to show Robredo forgetting the title of her favourite book was also shared in similar posts on Facebook , YouTube and TikTok . Comments on these posts suggest people believed she had forgotten the book's title. She read the book dozens of times but she can't name it, one user commented. Omg, the question was so simple but she could not even answer it, another said. However, the claim is false. Interrupted answer Keyword searches found the clip was taken from an interview Robredo gave to news outlet Rappler on March 26. A screenshot comparison of the clip in the false posts (left) and the corresponding frame in the Rappler interview (right). At the four-minute mark of the video, the interviewer asks: What is your favourite book of all time? Do you have any? You can name a few favourites if it's difficult to choose one. Robredo replies: I have a lot but, I guess, the book that intensified my desire to become a public service lawyer. I read this book maybe when I was in my first year in high school, 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. However, the mention of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel at the four-minute and 23-second mark is slightly muffled by an interruption from the interviewer. That's a classic book. No wonder you have such strong views , the interviewer says after Robredo has finished answering the question. Interviewer's clarification The Rappler journalist who interviewed Robredo has also clarified the vice president did mention the title of her favourite book -- contrary to the claim being spread in the false posts. Some quarters are purposely taking out of context a part of my FB Live interview with presidential bet VP Leni Robredo, where I asked her what's her fave book, Mara Cepeda tweeted on March 30. Contrary to what's being spread, she ANSWERED my Q. She said it's 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. AFP has previously debunked false and misleading claims about Robredo here , here , here and here .
(en)
|