THE Mindanao State University (MSU)-Iligan Institute of Technology (IIT) released a statement on Wednesday, June 21, branding as fake news a video supposedly showing Cayamora Maute, father of infamous siblings Abdulahh and Omarkhayam Maute, with Senator Antonio Trillanes III and MSU-IIT Chancellor Sukarno Tanggol.
A thumbnail image of the supposed video shows a manipulated image of the Maute patriarch with Tanggol, Trillanes, and two other unidentified MSU-IIT officials.
The manipulated image has an accompanying text saying “Trillanes binisto na! Namimigay ng armas at sinusuportahan ang mga Maute.”
The fake news video was posted on two YouTube channels, Duterteism and Duterte News Report and was then shared on the blogs dutertebalita.net and pinoybalita.net.
The blogs, all staunch supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte, claimed as news sites.
In its official website, MSU-IIT clarified that the video used two separate photos, one of Cayamora Maute, and the other, of Trillanes having his picture taken with Tanggol and other MSU officials during the 2013 MSU-Marawi commencement ceremonies.
The statement, released on the university’s official website, posted the original photograph of Tanggol with Trillanes and two other men minus Cayamora Maute.
"The merging of the two photos was clearly done to frame the issue of Trillanes allegedly providing arms to the Mautes, as the fake news headline screamed. Unfortunately, it also draws an indirect connection to the Chancellor," the statement said.
"MSU-IIT condemns this reprehensible act, and calls on the government to finally address the rising and serious threat posed by fake news," the statement added.
