FACT CHECK: Congressman denies proposing vlogger's burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani

A claim circulating on social media that Cagayan de Oro 1st District Representative Lordan Suan proposed the burial of slain vlogger Alicia Lipata, also known as Mima Alicia, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery) has been confirmed as FALSE by the lawmaker’s office. The false information was posted on July 30 by the Facebook page Birada Kagay-an, which has 11,000 followers. As of writing, the post has garnered over 4,700 reactions and 1,400 comments. The graphic reads, “Suan, isinusulong ang paglilibing kay Mima Alicia sa Libingan ng mga Bayani.” (Suan is proposing to have Mima Alicia buried at the Heroes’ Cemetery.) The claim has been reposted at least 60 times across various Facebook groups, accounts, and pages. The facts: Suan made no such proposal, as confirmed by the lawmaker’s office. “We have already reported both this post and the Birada Kagayan page. This page was created solely to disseminate false and misleading information as part of a black propaganda campaign against Congressman Suan,” Joel Torres, Suan’s Political Affairs Officer 6, told Rappler. Torres added, “Hinihikayat po namin ang publiko na i-verify ang information only through the official page of Congressman Lordan Suan and to refrain from sharing unverified or misleading content.” (We encourage the public to verify information only through the official page of Congressman Lordan Suan and to refrain from sharing unverified or misleading content.) Vlogger’s death: Lipata is a 24-year-old YouTube vlogger who was killed on July 17 by motorcycle-riding gunmen outside her home in Caloocan City. Lipata was known to be an avid supporter of the Marcos administration and critical of Vice President Sara Duterte and her allies. Investigators have reported that Lipata is a member of the United Vloggers and Influencers of the Philippines, the group that sought accreditation to gain official media access in Malacañang in 2022. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Lipata’s killing stemmed from an alleged P8-million debt and disagreements with the alleged masterminds of the murder. On August 3, the PNP declared Lipata’s case as solved with the filing of murder charges against six individuals. Libingan ng mga Bayani: The Heroes’ Cemetery, a property of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), is designated for Filipino soldiers, war veterans, and citizens considered as heroes and martyrs. According to AFP guidelines, the following are qualified to be buried at the cemetery: Medal of Valor awardees AFP presidents, commander-in-chief, chiefs of staff National defense secretaries AFP generals/flag officers Active and retired military personnel of the AFP (including active draftees and trainees, active reservists and CAFGU Active Auxiliary who died while on duty or combat-related activities) Former members of the AFP who laterally entered or joined the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Veterans of the Philippine Revolution of 1890, World War I, World War II, and recognized guerrillas Government dignitaries, statesmen, national artists, and other deceased persons whose interment and re-interment have been approved by the commander-in-chief, Congress, or the Secretary of National Defense Former presidents, secretaries of defense, dignitaries, statesmen, national artists, widows of former presidents, secretaries of national defense and chief of staff However, the regulations prohibit the interment of individuals “who have been dishonorably discharged from service or personnel convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude.” – Lourence Angelo Marcellana/Rappler.com Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at [email protected]. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.