Hoax alert: Duterte never visited Muntinlupa to clear vendors, LGU says

The local government of Muntinlupa City on Monday debunked a viral post saying that President Rodrigo Duterte went incognito to inspect the traffic situation in the city.

Public Information Officer Tez Navarro told GMA News Online in a phone interview that the post by the Facebook page Duterte for Real Change on Sunday night was not true.

The viral post claimed  that Duterte rode his motorcycle around Muntinlupa and noticed that vendors caused heavy traffic in the city market.

"Digong told Fresnedi he wanted all the vendors out of the streets and inside the market selling area. The last 2 days, no traffic and extremely peaceful to walk around the market area," the post read.

Navarro belied this, however.

"It is not true," Navarro told GMA News Online. "How we wish [he will visit]. We will be honored to have the President in Muntinlupa."

As of 7:20 p.m, the post has been shared at least 17,500 times and liked 36,300 times.

According to a tweet by @OFFICIALMUNTI, the local government conducted a clearing operation along Alabang viaduct and sidewalks on July 12.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi was not present because he attended the World Cities Summit in Singapore.

GMA News Online reached out to presidential spokesperson Ernie Abella, Presidential Communications Officer chief Martin Andanar, and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go for comment but they are yet to respond as of posting time. —JST, GMA News