FACT CHECK: Photos of Pangilinan, Hontiveros with Tacloban school shooting suspects are fake

Claim: Photos circulating online show senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros with the young suspects of the June 22 deadly school shooting in Tacloban City. 

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: Various photos have been circulating online showing Pangilinan and Hontiveros with the alleged shooters in the June 22 incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. There are also videos circulating online with the same claim.

One of the posts was uploaded on June 23 and has since garnered over 820 reactions, 360 comments, and 70 shares. The post was accompanied by a caption that reads, “Suspek sa pamamaril sa Tacloban City, higit na kailangan nya ng pagmamahal ng pamilya ngayon.” 

(The suspect in the Tacloban City shooting needs the love of their family now more than ever.)

The post was shared in the Facebook group “SARA DUTERTE SUPPORTERS,” which has over 494,100 members.

Another post published on the same date has drawn over 50 comments and 35 shares. The photos were uploaded by Facebook user “Gian Paolo De Torres,” who has over 112,000 followers.

The facts: A closer analysis using FakeImageDetector, an online software that performs error level analysis on images to determine whether they are altered, revealed that the photos are 80% computer-generated and modified, and exhibit abnormally low local pixel entropy.

There are also no official reports or updates from Pangilinan, Hontiveros, or authorities confirming that the senators have met any of the suspects in the Tacloban City school shooting. The false claim likely stemmed from online posts linking Pangilinan to the juvenile justice law passed in 2006, which he co-authored and sponsored.

The June 22 shooting involved two minors, one aged 14 and the other aged 15. An initial probe by the Philippine National Police showed that the minors appeared to have planned the attack.  

Three students were killed and at least 15 others were wounded after the suspects fired at least 34 rounds of ammunition, according to the police investigation.

Law misconception: Under Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, minors who are in conflict with the law are subject to various legal interventions depending on their age.

Under the law, children aged 15 and below at the time of the commission of the offense “shall be exempt from criminal liability” but will be subjected to an intervention program. Meanwhile, a child above 15 years but below 18 years of age “shall likewise be exempt from criminal liability and be subjected to an intervention program, unless he/she has acted with discernment, in which case, such child shall be subjected to the appropriate proceedings…”

This means that children in conflict with the law are still held accountable, though the process differs from offenders who have reached the age of criminal responsibility. (READ: Murder complaints filed vs 15-year-old student in Tacloban school shooting)

Following the Tacloban school shooting, Pangilinan noted that there is widespread disinformation surrounding the law, stressing that it does not exempt children in conflict with the law from accountability. (READ: [Pinoy Criminology] The Tacloban school shooting and the challenge of juvenile justice)

“Hindi tama na hindi mapapanagot ang menor de edad na nagkasala. Walang lugar ang karahasan sa ating lipunan, lalong-lalo na sa mga lugar na dapat ay ligtas para sa mga bata,” he said.

(It is not right that a minor who commits a crime is not held accountable. Violence has no place in our society, especially in places that should be safe for children). 

He also opposed renewed calls to lower the age of criminal liability.

Debunked: Rappler has previously debunked other claims involving the manipulation of photos of public officials:

• FACT CHECK: Photo of bedridden Duterte is fake, digitally altered
• FACT CHECK: Manipulated photo shows Syrian prisoner ‘freed’
• ALTERED PHOTO: Poster says Bicolanos ashamed of Leni Robredo
• ALTERED PHOTO: Mark Zuckerberg in Liberal Party ad
• ALTERED PHOTO: Alleged mugshot of Sarah Elago

– Reinnard Balonzo/Rappler.com 

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