“Nakuryente?” ["Electrocuted?"]
When the ABS-CBN’s Bandila news report on an alleged “mysterious flesh-eating skin disease” in the province of Pangasinan went viral (pun intended), the ensuing online panic appeared to be more contagious than the supposed sickness itself. “The hashtag #PrayforPangasinan remains the top trending local topic on Twitter as netizens continue to hope for the recovery of those affected by the alleged flesh-eating illness.” (Source: ABS-CBN News ) There are those who immediately claimed that this fulfilled the “prophecy” of a so-called modern-day prophet. Image credit B ut, according to the Health Secretary Enrique Ona, the report was a hoax. “There is no reported case of ‘flesh-eating’ skin disease in the country yet. Absolutely no reason for the public to panic” ( Rappler ). What was reported as supposed victims of the flesh-eating disease were actually people afflicted with “leprosy with drug reaction” and “psoriasis.” (Ibid) Of course, ABS-CBN would have a lot of explaining