FACT CHECK: No, this is not a map of the Philippines’ high-speed rail system | ABS-CBN
ADVERTISEMENT

Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!
FACT CHECK: No, this is not a map of the Philippines’ high-speed rail system
FACT CHECK: No, this is not a map of the Philippines’ high-speed rail system
Agence France-Presse
Published Oct 19, 2018 06:24 PM PHT
|
Updated Oct 19, 2018 09:36 PM PHT

A widely-shared Facebook post contains a map that claims to show the Philippines’ high-speed rail system.
A widely-shared Facebook post contains a map that claims to show the Philippines’ high-speed rail system.
The map in the widely-shared Facebook post shows a series of lines running up and down the southeast Asian archipelago.
The map in the widely-shared Facebook post shows a series of lines running up and down the southeast Asian archipelago.
The post says: "President Duterte is doing his best to improve Philippine transport system in the Philippines".
The post says: "President Duterte is doing his best to improve Philippine transport system in the Philippines".
Here is a screenshot of the post:
Here is a screenshot of the post:
ADVERTISEMENT
A reverse image search showed that the picture was posted online here in February 2014.
A reverse image search showed that the picture was posted online here in February 2014.
The blog entry describes the image as "an imaginary map" of a high-speed network that spans the Philippines.
The blog entry describes the image as "an imaginary map" of a high-speed network that spans the Philippines.
Here is a screengrab of the original post:
Here is a screengrab of the original post:
The blogger, Michael Gonzalez, told AFP: “Yes, that's my blog and I made that map, a complete work of fiction.”
The blogger, Michael Gonzalez, told AFP: “Yes, that's my blog and I made that map, a complete work of fiction.”
“I never shared my work anywhere claiming that it was an actual project, so someone at some point must have taken it and shared it for malicious purposes,” he added.
“I never shared my work anywhere claiming that it was an actual project, so someone at some point must have taken it and shared it for malicious purposes,” he added.
ADVERTISEMENT
Undersecretary Timothy Batan from the Department of Transportation also told AFP that the Philippines does not have a high-speed rail system yet but there are plans to eventually have one.
Undersecretary Timothy Batan from the Department of Transportation also told AFP that the Philippines does not have a high-speed rail system yet but there are plans to eventually have one.
“There are plans to eventually build a High Speed Rail (HSR) system and the current pipeline of projects are being designed for eventual upgrading to HSR”.
“There are plans to eventually build a High Speed Rail (HSR) system and the current pipeline of projects are being designed for eventual upgrading to HSR”.
He also said the correct image of the planned rail system for the Philippines is the one below:
He also said the correct image of the planned rail system for the Philippines is the one below:
The post has been shared over 7,000 times by Facebook groups and pages with combined followers of nearly 630,000. Most of these Facebook accounts support Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
The post has been shared over 7,000 times by Facebook groups and pages with combined followers of nearly 630,000. Most of these Facebook accounts support Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Read More:
Fact check
rail system
fake news
social media
rail transportation
Rodrigo Duterte
DOTr
Department of Transportation
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT