ABS-CBN admits Metro Manila lockdown draft post amid COVID-19 outbreak
ABS-CBN admitted that a draft stating Metro Manila is under lockdown was posted on its social media site on Thursday, March 12.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak in several countries in the world and started to create panic in the Philippines, a social media post of the news bureau of the Kapamilya network heightened the worries.
ABS-CBN had this headline: “Nakatakdang humarap sa sangbayanan si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ngayong Huwebes ng gabi sa gitna ng pagdami ng kaso ng COVID-19.” However, the photo that was included in the post stated another thought: “President Duterte places Metro Manila under lockdown due to COVID-19.”
Netizens who saw the post before it was deleted expressed various reactions. Some got worried believing that the post was really intended for the public to see at this moment. On the other hand, some did not easily believe the post as it was immediately took down.
Following this varying opinions on social media about the alleged “lockdown”, ABS-CBN issued an explanation and apology regarding this matter. In the statement, the network also stressed out that an action will be taken after this mistake amid the crisis.
This is the official statement of the network:
“Earlier today, ABS-CBN News inadvertently posted a draft art card on COVID-19 situation while preparing for possible scenarios. There remains to be no declaration of a lockdown in Metro Manila as of this time. We deeply regret the error. We are instituting disciplinary measures against personnel involved in the erroneous posting.”
A statement from the Philippine National Police (PNP) clarified that the agency did not declare lockdown as what other social media posts stated.
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