Summer is still raging. While most people are doing their best to combat the scorching heat, around 1000 people from far-flung provinces didn’t hesitate to hit the road on a mission to claim their share of our country’s “hidden wealth” at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. 

What happened

A massive crowd of around 1,000 gathered outside Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) yesterday, demanding the release of the so-called hidden wealth, worth more than 100 trillion pesos, allegedly intended for the public. 

These people — mostly members of the Democratic and Republican Guardians Philippines Inc. — came from areas as far as Pangasinan and Iloilo.  Among them was their founder, Gilbert Langres, who even brought supposed documents proving the claim. 

“Take note, the big one is coming. Kailan pa ba magkakaroon ng pagkakaisa ang sambayanang Pilipino kung huli na ang lahat? Gayong narito ang kayamanang nakatago sa Bangko Sentral? Kailangang magkapit-bisig tayong mamayang Pilipino bilang tagapagmana,” Langres emphasized in an interview with ABS-CBN. 

However, the BSP denied these claims, clarifying that they don’t release funds directly to the people but rather to the government.

Pinoys ask: are we really that gullible?

Social media can be a wild place. We’ve all seen those crazy quote cards with stuff celebrities never said, yet many people still believe them. However, this ‘hidden wealth’ fiasco is a stark reminder that the ones making this stuff up are just far more irresponsible, if not worse, than those who fall for it due to desperation.

“Hindi malabo na ‘yong sinasabing founder na ‘yan ay naningil [ng] registration or membership fee sa libu-libong tao na ‘yan,” one Facebook user argued.

Some were frustrated by the people’s inability to verify dubious claims. Others speculated that poverty could have pushed these people to such desperation that they’d believe anything.

Many linked this incident to the state of our democracy and how Filipinos tend to vote.

“Malayong-malayo pa talaga tayo sa pinapangarap natin na maayos na gobyerno at maunlad na bayan,” another netizen wrote.

Spotting fake news

No matter how much we avoid false or misleading information, it will continue to haunt us like a plague. Scammers are getting smarter, using advanced technologies to lure people unwittingly into their traps.

Remember this: if something seems too good to be true, chances are, it probably is.

Do your research. We also have a handy little checklist that can help you avoid scams. Life’s already hard enough as it is, so let’s not make it more complicated.

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