COVID-19 misinformation in the Philippines
[2] The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act also punishes fake news peddlers of two months jail time or fine of up to ₱1 million.[3] Misinformation on the virus's origin included that SARS-CoV-2 was a type of rabies along with advice to not eat bats.[4] According to a report by Reuters published in 2024, the United States ran a propaganda campaign to spread disinformation about the Sinovac Chinese COVID-19 vaccine, including using fake social media accounts to spread the disinformation that the Sinovac vaccine contained pork-derived ingredients and was therefore haram under Islamic law.[15] The campaign primarily targeted people in the Philippines and used a social media hashtag for "China is the virus" in Tagalog.[15] In August 2021, Thousand of people line up in vaccination sites across Metro Manila, many without prior registration, following false information that the unvaccinated would be ineligible to receive aid or be allowed to leave their homes during the enhance community quarantine in the metropolis.