FACT-CHECK: TikTok account spreads altered screenshot about a bonus for government employees

CLAIM: Government employees will receive a midyear bonus equivalent to their one-month pay starting June 26, 2024.

RATING: ALTERED

A video is circulating on the TikTok platform with a manipulated screenshot incorrectly announcing the start of the midyear bonus distribution for government employees.

TikTok account “parengjo8to” altered a screenshot taken from the 24 Oras TV newscast’s original TikTok video in his erroneous content posted on June 25, 2024.

The manipulated video has audio wrongly claiming that government employees will receive a midyear bonus equivalent to their one-month pay starting June 26, 2024, citing the Department of Budget and Management.

According to the Budget Circular No. 2017-2, 5.1 of DBM, the Mid-Year Bonus equivalent to one month basic pay as of May 15 shall be given to entitled personnel not earlier than May 15 of the current year.

The screenshot used was altered by covering the original date of the video and replacing it with “Tue June 25.” The original date in the video was “Tue May 14.”

As of writing, the altered TikTok post has garnered 1.7 million views, 14,800 likes, 1,300 comments, and 10,800 shares. This shows that the faked video has reached a large audience.

The accurate start date of the midyear bonus according to the DBM is May 15, 2024. Earl Jerald Alpay

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Earl Alpay is a Communications student from the Pamantasan ng Lungson ng Maynila and an intern for PressOnePH. This piece was created under the supervision of PressOnePH’s editors.