ABS-CBN Apologized on Controversial “DRAFT POST” of METRO MANILA LOCKDOWN Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

ABS-CBN admitted mistakes of publishing Draft Post stating “Metro Manila Lockdown” amid COVID-19 outbreak in the country which was posted on their social media site on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

The coronavirus outbreak was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as pandemic as it affects many countries in the world with more than 4,600 people have died and over 126,000 infected globally, according to the WHO.

The deadly disease has created panic to the people on the affected countries including Philippines after the second death confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH) as local first death case in the country prompting the health authorities raised alert system to “Code Red, Sub-level 1” and the Office of the President suspended classes in Metro Manila.

In connection to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, the social media post of the giant news bureau of the Philippines, ABS-CBN has created tension and worries to the Filipinos following after their controversial “Draft Post” which was mistakenly published by one of their technical staffs.

According to the draft post of the ABS-CBN, it reads, “Nakatakdang humarap sa sangbayanan si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ngayong Huwebes ng gabi sa gitna ng pagdami ng kaso ng COVID-19.”

However, the post becomes controversial because of the photo included in the post stating different idea which read:

“President Duterte places Metro Manila under lockdown due to COVID-19.”

The post created worries to the netizens who have noticed the post before it was removed on the media flat form as the netizen expressed various reactions following to the alleged Metro Manila lockdown. But there are some did not simply believe because it was immediately removed from the site.

Related article: PALACE REACTION: ABS-CBN Posted Fake News In Metro Manila Lockdown Last Thursday

The management of the ABS-CBN issued official statement of apology to the public with regards to the controversial Metro Manila lockdown. In the statement, the media network stressed out that a certain action will be taken amid the crisis and disciplinary measure to the concern staff involved in the mistake.

The official statement of the ABS-CBN reads:

“Earlier today, ABS-CBN News inadvertently posted a draft art card on COVID-19 situation while preparing for possible scenarios. There remains to be no declaration of a lockdown in Metro Manila as of this time. We deeply regret the error. We are instituting disciplinary measures against personnel involved in the erroneous posting.”

The controversial draft post of ABS-CBN spread in the social networking sites but on the other hand, the Philippine National Police (PNP) clarified that the agency did not declare lockdown in contrast to what was circulated on social media.