FACT CHECK: Text Poll Repeats False Claim That QC Gov’t Purchased Overpriced Food Packs

Claim: Quezon City supposedly purchased overpriced food packs as part of its assistance to residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This was implied through a poll question circulated via text message that asked residents if Mayor Joy Belmonte should be tried for plunder for the incident.

Rating: False, Misleading

Facts:

The poll question circulating via text message among some Quezon City repeated a false claim last year about the food packs allegedly worth P426 million.

While crafted as a question, the text message made it appear that there were irregularities in the procurement of the food packs.

There is no basis to revive the issue since there is no evidence supporting such claim.

Last Jan. 23, Quezon City mayoral candidate and Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor wrongly claimed that the Commission on Audit (COA) has questioned the validity of P479-million worth of COVID-19 relief goods procured by the city government in 2020.

He claimed the “new report” published on COA website “bolters” the allegation he made in September 2021 that the city government purchased overpriced food packs, which were distributed to residents affected by the pandemic.

COA, however, did not reprimand the Quezon City government and only requested pending documentation on the procurement of the relief goods to complete their year-end audit.

There is nothing in the report that supports the claim that the food packs were overpriced.

In a subsequent letter to Belmonte on Jan. 31, COA supervising auditor Joseph Perez also confirmed that the local government has “already been substantially complied” with the request to submit complete documentation on the procurement of the relief goods.

The Quezon City government has repeatedly denied claims that it purchased overpriced relief goods.

“Their claim that this report was ‘newly posted on the COA website’ is a flat-out lie. This was posted on the COA website LAST JULY 2021, pertaining to technical issues for the year 2020,” Belmonte’s spokesperson Pia Morato said in a Facebook post on Jan. 25.

“These technical issues were fully resolved in a matter of weeks, which, as mentioned, resulted in QC receiving an unqualified opinion from COA,” she added.

Rex Quieta, COA resident auditor for Quezon City, earlier said that the unqualified opinion “is important because it signifies that the financial records and financial statements of Quezon City comply with the high standards, rules and regulations of COA.”

“This is the most important recognition that a local government unit like us can get. This is validation of our efforts for good governance in Quezon City, and this is also a welcome surprise since we received this in our first term,” Belmonte said in a statement last year.

Why it matters:

While the extent of this particular false claim’s reach cannot be easily determined, the poll indicates that text messages are also being used to spread disinformation – including those already debunked online – ahead of the 2022 elections.

OneNews.ph is part of #FactsFirstPH, which brings together various sectors that are committed to promoting truth in the public space, and exacting accountability on those who harm it with lies. For those interested to join the initiative, email [email protected].

Disclosure: The Philippine STAR, which has editorial supervision over OneNews.PH, is partly-owned by the Belmonte family. This piece was written independently and followed editorial standards and procedures.