FACT CHECK | Post claiming veteran journalist Karen Davila is ‘no longer Kakampink’ is misleading

March 23, 2022 , 03:31 PM

(March 23, 2022) – Many social media users thought that the presence of veteran broadcast journalist Karen Davila in the campaign event of presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos Jr. in Cavite meant that she is supporting the late dictator’s son in the 2022 elections.

This is after a local rock band posed for a photo with Davila and shared it on Facebook.

This post is misleading.

CLAIM:

Plethora, who was part of the entertainers in the campaign rally on Tuesday, posted a photo where the four members were with Davila. The caption said that the ABS-CBN anchor was no longer a “Kakampink,” a term used by the supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo. It added that Davila is now a “solid Plethora.”

RATING: Misleading

FACT:

While the band didn’t directly say that Davila’s presence was tantamount to supporting Marcos, many social media users who commented on or shared the post were misled. Some followers of Marcos, the standard-bearer of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, even welcomed and expressed gratitude to Davila. Others, on the other hand, said Davila was only there because of her job to cover the campaign sortie.

The band’s claim, meanwhile, that Davila once identified as a supporter of Robredo, an independent presidential candidate, has no concrete basis.

Davila trailed Marcos in his political rally on Tuesday as part of her network’s special coverage of the 2022 elections. She posted a photo on Twitter during the caravan. She’s also assigned to cover Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who’s running under Probinsya Muna Development Initiative.

ABSCBN’s Kampanya Serye On The Road & Presidential Intvws shoots today. I have been assigned to trail Presidential Aspirants Bongbong Marcos & Sen Manny Pacquiao.

Henry Omaga Diaz is covering VP Leni Robredo & my co-anchors have been assigned to other candidates. #Halalan2022 pic.twitter.com/AZZkXd0g9c

— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) March 22, 2022

Beat reporting is a common practice among newsrooms in which journalists are assigned to cover a particular sector, issue, or institution. Some of the more regular news beats are politics, crime, sports, and showbiz. With this, beat reporters are expected to develop a sense of familiarity and an in-depth understanding of the issues they follow.

Bianca Gonzales, a popular host from ABS-CBN, also warned the public against those who might deliberately spread disinformation against journalists covering the different camps.

Babala sa maaaring magkalat ng fake news na may ineendorso ang ABS-CBN journalists. Sila po ay assigned para sa #Halalan2022 coverage:

VP Leni – Henry Omaga Diaz
BBM – Karen Davila
Pacquiao – Karen Davila
Lacson – Bernadette Sembrano
Isko – Alvin Elchico
Ka Leody – Zen Hernandez

— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) March 22, 2022

WHY THIS MATTERS:

It was not the first time that journalists have been accused of casting support for a candidate or being biased towards a politician just because of their coverage.

Atty. Ferdinand Topacio previously blasted Rappler reporter Mara Cepeda for allegedly showing bias for Robredo because of her successive tweets about the opposition leader.

In a tweet, Rappler explained that Cepeda serves as the beat reporter of Robredo’s camp so it’s necessary for her to tweet about the subject she’s covering.

So far, the misleading post of Plethora has gained 35,000 reactions, 3,900 comments, and 1,600 shares.

News 5 is part of #FactsFirstPH which brings together various sectors that are committed to promoting truth in the public space, and exacting accountability on those who harm it with lies. For those interested to join the initiative, e-mail info@factsfirst.ph. Message News 5’s Facebook page if you want to have any claims fact-checked. Read our fact-checking policy here.

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