29/06/2025
OPINION | Fakery is still a crime, even if you don’t like the politician
Whether or not you voted for Benguet Congressman Eric Go Yap, the issue goes beyond politics. It’s about truth, accountability, and the lines we must not cross, specially in the age of viral disinformation.
On June 27, a page known as “People’s Voice” published a sensational claim: that Yap allegedly has three different birth certificates. One each from Davao, Caloocan, and Quezon City. The post, which quickly gained traction before it was deleted, mocked the alleged documents as proof of some kind of political shape-shifting. It ended with hashtags like and , turning the accusation into a meme.
On the same day, the page “Balitang Northern Luzon,” which brands itself as a regional news source, echoed the same narrative, this time framed as a “public concern.” Without verifying the documents or even naming their source, the page asked: “Sino ang totoong Eric Go Yap?” and “Kung may tatlong birth cert, alin doon ang totoo?”
Congressman Yap responded swiftly and sharply on June 28 in a public post, sharing screenshots of the claims with author’s name blurred.
“These screenshots were sent to me, may isang page na nagsasabing meron daw po akong tatlong magkakaibang birth certificates. THIS IS A LIE,” Yap wrote.
“Clearly, they fabricated birth certificates para lang lokohin ang mga tao. Let me remind you, producing fake birth certificates is not just pathetic—it’s illegal.”
He went on to say that he has already proven his natural-born Filipino citizenship before the courts and the Commission on Elections.
“I won these cases in 2021, may desisyon na noon. Time to stop these baseless accusations.”
Yap didn’t hold back in calling out what he believes to be politically motivated disinformation:
“The continued efforts of a certain camp to spread propaganda is very disappointing. Ang tanong ko po, why? Tapos na po ang eleksyon. Kailan po tayo makaka-move on?”
He concluded with a reminder to the public:
“May this also serve as a warning sa ating lahat—hindi po lahat ng nakikita o nababasa sa social media ay totoo. ’Wag po tayo magpaloko at maging biktima.”
When fakery becomes felony
If someone indeed fabricated government documents, such as birth certificates, and circulated them to damage someone’s reputation, that’s not just irresponsible. It’s potentially criminal.
Under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code, the falsification of public documents, including birth certificates, is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment. When such acts are committed online, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175) may apply, imposing harsher penalties for using digital platforms to commit or spread falsified materials. In addition, the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173) prohibits the unauthorized use or disclosure of personal data, including birth records, specially when shared without consent or legal basis, potentially exposing violators to both civil and criminal liability.
The law draws a firm line: criticism is protected speech; fake documents are not.
Whether you’re in media, politics, or a random Facebook admin, when you spread fake documents, you’re not informing the public. You’re manipulating them.
“News” pages without accountability
Pages like “Balitang Northern Luzon” present themselves as regional news outlets but often fail the basic standards of journalism: verification, transparency, and accountability.
The post doesn’t identify the author. They don’t cite sources. They amplify sensational claims without fact-checking. This behavior doesn’t just mislead the public, it erodes trust in real journalism.
In this case, the pages in question failed to establish:
• The authenticity of the documents they claimed “surfaced”
• Who produced or verified them
• Whether any public agency had actually received, accepted, or used those documents
And when such claims go viral with zero accountability, they don’t serve democracy. They poison it.
That’s not news. That’s online ambush dressed as public service.
Beyond Yap: a public wake-up call
You don’t have to support Eric Yap to see the danger here. If fake documents can be circulated online to cast doubt on one’s citizenship, what’s to stop the same tactic from being used against anyone else? A mayor? A teacher? You?
In a time when public officials are rightfully held to higher standards, the public must also hold itself to standards of truthfulness. Otherwise, we all become complicit in a culture where smear campaigns overtake civic discourse.
It’s okay to ask questions about our leaders. It’s okay to criticize. But when the criticism relies on fabricated documents or baseless claims, that’s no longer democracy at work. That’s manipulation, and it should alarm all of us.
This isn’t about defending Eric Yap. It’s about defending facts. Regardless of who’s being targeted, fake documents should never be acceptable political currency.
Truth is not partisan. And if we don’t protect it, no one, politician or citizen, is safe from the next lie.
By Mia Magdalena Fokno
June 28, 2025
Screenshot credits (from left to right):
People’s Voice page, Balitang Northern Luzon page, and a public post by Congressman Eric Yap (with Facebook name blurred).
