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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
Claim: The Department of Education (DepEd) announced the suspension of face-to-face classes in all levels until December to ensure students’ safety amid the recent series of strong earthquakes.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook video containing the claim was uploaded on October 12 and has since accumulated over 3.1 million views, 30,000 reactions, 1,500 comments, and 16,000 shares. A similar video with the same claim has also reached over 2.1 million views, 18,000 reactions, 1,400 comments, and 12,000 shares. Both videos, along with posts containing related claims, are being shared in various Facebook groups with hundreds of thousands to millions of followers.
In the video, a man is shown speaking with the DepEd logo in the background, saying, “No face-to-face classes from October 15 to December sa lahat ng antas ng paaralan. Dahil ito sa sunod-sunod na lindol na hindi natin alam kung saan tatama. Para ito sa kaligtasan ng lahat ng estudyante, lahat ay online at modular classes na hanggang December. Tignan ang memo sa aming post.”
(No face-to-face classes from October 15 to December in all school levels. This is due to the series of earthquakes, and we don’t know where it will strike next. This is for the safety of all students, everything will shift to online and modular classes until December. Please see the memo in our post.)
The videos were uploaded by “Dswd Tv. Network,” a Facebook page imitating the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The page has over 335,000 followers and consistently posts false claims regarding calamities, class suspensions, and government aid.
The facts: The videos circulating online are fake. DepEd has not released an official memorandum or announcement regarding the suspension of face-to-face classes from October 15 to December 2025.
In a post on its official Facebook page on October 13, DepEd flagged several posts spreading false information about class suspensions, including the false claim made in the Facebook videos.
“Pinaaalalahanan ng DepEd ang publiko na mag-ingat at maging mapanuri sa mga impormasyong nababasa online. Labanan natin ang fake news, huwag i-follow ang mga page na nagbabahagi ng maling balita at agad i-report ang mga ito,” the department said.
(DepEd reminds the public to be careful and be critical of the information they read online. Let’s fight fake news, do not follow pages that share false news and report them immediately.)
‘Not true’: DepEd-Davao Region has also denied rumors of a nationwide face-to-face class suspension following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that recently struck Davao Oriental. Jenielito Atillo, spokesperson for DepEd-Davao Region, said in an interview with Sunstar Davao that no such announcement was issued by the regional office, and that messages about the shift to online and modular classes due to the recent earthquakes were “fake news.”
AI use and fake links: Deepfake detection software Resemble AI flagged the videos as AI-generated. The software employs an internal metric to determine content authenticity, operating with a 90% confidence and accuracy rate.
The links included in the post, which claim to lead to the supposed DepEd memorandum, redirect users to an online shopping platform instead of an official government document. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing)
Class suspensions: The false claims circulated after DepEd ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes on October 13 and 14 in all public schools in Metro Manila due to an influenza-like illness outbreak and to conduct building inspections following the recent earthquakes that affected various parts of the country. (READ: [Kasalikasan] When back-to-back disasters strike)
Contrary to the claim, the suspension announcement was not extended until December and does not cover all schools nationwide.
The education department has also urged local government units (LGUs) to exercise “balance and prudence” in declaring class suspensions. This comes after some LGUs announced extended class suspensions, citing precautions against potential seismic activity.
Debunked: Rappler has previously debunked several false claims using AI tools:
FACT CHECK: AI-generated videos about free housing for 4Ps beneficiaries contain fake links
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FACT CHECK: Post on September payout for Unconditional Cash Transfer program is fake
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FACT CHECK: Post on P5,000 cash aid for national ID holders is fake
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FACT CHECK: Post on September payout for Unconditional Cash Transfer program is fake
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FACT CHECK: Post on DepEd student cash assistance is fake
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– Reinnard Balonzo/Rappler.com
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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