MISLEADING: GMA News at fault for policeman who died after SONA duty

Jessie Marco Cabrera

A Facebook post by Makata ng Bayan claimed that a police officer who died in a road crash after his State of the Nation Address deployment was a victim of GMA’s “fake news,” alleging that the network was responsible because its reporting led to a larger police deployment.

CLAIM:

The post claimed that GMA is responsible for the officer’s death because its alleged “fake news” caused the large-scale deployment.

RATING:

Misleading

CONCLUSION:

While it is true that a police officer died in a road accident after completing SONA security duty, there is no evidence that GMA News caused or influenced the deployment or bears responsibility for the fatal crash.

THE FACTS:

• Patrolman Allan Chris Heredero, 33, died after his motorcycle was struck and run over by a 10-wheeler truck while returning home after his 24-hour SONA duty. The incident was confirmed by the PNP.
• PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. stated that a relative of the policeman said that the officer had just completed his duty and may have been exhausted before the incident.
• The post provides no evidence that GMA News’ reporting resulted in the number of police personnel deployed for the SONA.
• Security deployments for the State of the Nation Address are planned and implemented by the Philippine National Police as part of official security operations, not by media organizations.

BOTTOMLINE:

The claim is misleading. No evidence establishes a causal link between media reporting, SONA security development decisions, and the fatal road accident.