08/08/2026
🚨 A REMINDER ABOUT RUMORS, FALSE INFORMATION, AND RESPONSIBLE SPEECH
Not all fake news is posted on Facebook.
Not all misinformation comes from a social media post.
Sometimes, it begins with a conversation.
A person hears something.
Another person repeats it.
Someone adds another detail.
Then, before anyone takes the time to verify the truth, the story has already reached several people.
And sometimes, the damage is not just to a business or an institution.
It can cause real fear and anxiety to the people who hear it.
Imagine being a pregnant mother or a family preparing for childbirth and suddenly hearing an alarming story about the safety of a healthcare facility—only to later find out that the information was never true.
This is why we are reminded:
PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
VERIFY BEFORE YOU REPEAT.
Healthcare is already an area where patients and families naturally experience worry, uncertainty, and fear. False information about a patient's safety, a medical incident, or an alleged death should never be treated as casual conversation or passed from one person to another without verification.
If you hear something concerning about a healthcare facility:
🔎 VERIFY THE INFORMATION FIRST.
🗣️ ASK THE FACILITY DIRECTLY.
❌ DO NOT ASSUME THAT “SOMEONE SAID IT” MAKES IT TRUE.
❤️ REMEMBER THAT YOUR WORDS CAN AFFECT SOMEONE'S PEACE OF MIND.
We respect everyone's right to express concerns and ask questions. In the same way, healthcare providers and businesses deserve to be treated fairly and not be judged based on unverified stories.
Under Philippine law, certain harmful statements made orally may constitute oral defamation (slander) when the legal elements are present. The Civil Code also recognizes the duty to act with justice, give others their due, and observe honesty and good faith.
This is not about silencing anyone.
It is about encouraging RESPONSIBLE SPEECH.
Because one careless statement can create fear in a mother, worry in a family, and unnecessary damage to the reputation of people who work hard to provide safe and compassionate care.
So before saying:
“May namatay daw…”
“Sabi nila…”
“May nangyari raw…”
Pause.
Ask yourself:
“Alam ko ba ito nang personal?”
“Napatunayan ko ba ito?”
“Ano ang magiging epekto kung hindi ito totoo?”
Because…
NOT EVERYTHING YOU HEAR IS TRUE.
AND NOT EVERYTHING YOU HEAR SHOULD BE REPEATED.
Verify. Think. Be responsible.
Stop rumors before they cause harm. 🤍