FALSE. Senator Risa Hontiveros asked tennis star Alex Eala to endorse her LGBT advocacy.
FACT. Hontiveros publicly debunked the post, stating on her verified Facebook account: “Stop the lies.” There was no request or endorsement interaction between her and Eala.
The viral post circulated through Tennis Spot, using a dramatic narrative that Eala refused Hontiveros’ endorsement request, with statements like: “I am an athlete, not a tool for your political agenda.”
The post gained 3,200 reactions but contains no verifiable sources or official confirmation.
This follows a pattern of disinformation: Hontiveros has previously been targeted by fake posts and AI-generated claims, while Eala has also been subject to fabricated stories, including false donations and fabricated awards. Such posts misuse quotes and create false narratives to gain traction and mislead audiences.
Hontiveros and Eala are frequently targeted in viral misinformation, including false claims about awards, multimillion-peso donations, and bonuses.
These cases highlight a recurring pattern of using their names to generate clicks and online engagement. The recent Tennis Spot post appears to be another instance of this type of fabricated story.
