#HindiTama: Viral photo purports to show relief operations for Typhoon Lawin

#HindiTama is an initiative of GMA News Online to shed light on viral hoaxes and misinformation on the web.

In the days following Typhoon Lawin's devastation of Northern Luzon, a photo of supposed relief operations went viral on social media.

People purported to be disaster victims were shown smiling as they walked away with sacks of rice in their hands, one to a person.

The accompanying caption credited the windfall to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the Duterte administration. It also criticized the previous administration for failing to provide the same level of service.

"Sako-sakong bigas ang mga pinamimigay ng DSWD sa mga nasalanta ng bagyong Lawin, samantalang noong bagyong Yolanda tig-dadalawang kilo lang bawat pamilya... Malayong-malayo na talaga ang pinagkaiba ng dating administrasyon at sa kasalukuyang administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte," it read.

However, the original photographer came forward, pointing out that the picture was taken four years ago in July 2012 at an outreach event organized by the non-profit Tzu Chi Foundation, Philippines. 

The photographer, Camille Nepomuceno, bemoaned the misappropriation of her work for political purposes and without attribution.

"Masakit para sa isang writer (at) photographer na angkinin ng iba ang bagay na pinaghirapan nya... (M)aling-mali ang ginawa ng mga admin ng (mga Facebook pages) sa pag-angkin ng isang larawan at sabihin ito ay bunga ng magandang pamamahala ng administrasyong Duterte," she said.

"Kung gusto nyong pabanguhin ang Presidente, posts things that took place under his administration and not grab from other sites," Nepomuceno underscored.

Nepomuceno's outcry has since led to numerous Facebook pages taking down their reposts, though some still remain as of posting time.

A news aggregator blog post accompanying the photo has also since been taken down. —JST, GMA News