AKLAN, Philippines – They came with band instruments and voices, filling the town center of Banga with music on Sunday night, February 23. For the friends and relatives of 15-year-old Jhoros Flores, it was a tribute, a plea, and a reminder: He was still missing.
But outside the small gathering, beyond the mournful chords and flickering candles, another story was playing out – one that had less to do with grief and more to do with the brutal machinery of social media.
In the weeks since Flores was swept away in the 97-kilometer Aklan River on January 29, his family has endured not just the unbearable silence of his disappearance but the noise of misinformation.
The tragedy has become bait for clicks. On social media, some netizens have taken advantage of the family’s pain, spreading baseless theories and wild claims disguised as news. The stories range from ridiculous to cruel – false narratives of foul play, reckless speculation – trapping Flores’ loved ones in a cycle of false hope and confusion.
Worse, the cycle has not stopped on social media. Some local radio stations, long seen as trusted sources in Aklan, have amplified these distortions, broadcasting and riding on the rumors that serve only to deepen the family’s anguish.
Rescue teams, led by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), launched a search and retrieval operation, but weeks later, the teen remains missing. The search for the missing teen is ongoing.
The boy’s mother Rosebelle Flores made a direct plea: “I appeal to everyone who is taking videos (during the search) and making false stories just for the sake of posting something on social media. You are adding injury to our burden. If you want to help, just help.”
Among those who allegedly spread false narratives was one who used the name “Ashira Talia” – falsely claiming to be a relative of the Floreses in a social media post.
In a now-deleted Facebook post, Talia falsely claimed that the missing teen was involved in a gang rape and was subsequently murdered and buried by his friends to prevent him from squealing on them. Police have debunked the claim.
Another vlogger, “Yawaclaudio,” called on the media to investigate Flores’ friends, further fueling speculation.
The false claims made their way into public discussions on mainstream media in the province, but the backlash was swift, with some journalists and authorities condemning those spreading misinformation on social media.
Authorities have since warned about the dangers of misinformation, stating, “Several Facebook profiles recently surfaced posting malicious content containing misleading information and accusations regarding the incident, drawing doubt and confusion among the public.”
On February 18, the Banga town police issued a statement on its official Facebook page, asserting that the disappearance of Flores was accidental and had been thoroughly investigated by them.
“Maximized efforts have been undertaken by various agencies, organizations, sectors, rescue volunteers, and even private individuals [who] extended assistance in the extensive search, rescue, and retrieval of the victim, but all efforts turned out not as expected; the victim has not surfaced and is still considered missing as of this time,” the statement read.
The police said their investigation found no signs of foul play, a conclusion supported by statements from the victim’s family and eyewitnesses. However, they also warned about false information circulating online.
Beyond misinformation, weeks of relentless social media attention on the missing teen have taken a psychological toll on the family.
Dr. Romeo Lorenzo, a psychologist based in Kalibo, recounted his conversation with Flores’ father: “I learned that he has already started to [stop using] Facebook because of the surge of fake news about Jhoros’ fate.”
He said the grieving father, a construction worker, has experienced stress-induced heart palpitations.
“He is now restricting his time on social media,” Lorenzo noted, adding that the onslaught of speculation has made it harder for the family to process what happened.
Meanwhile, former Energy FM-Kalibo station manager Jhofel Magpusao urged local media to exercise sensitivity, uphold professionalism, and adhere to their code of ethics, emphasizing that misinformation and disinformation have no place in mainstream media.
“Educate people on what is right, and don’t dwell on misinformation,” he said.
The search for Flores continues as divers from Boracay and Iloilo join Aklan’s rescuers, though hopes are fading.
Interference
But as they continued the search along the Aklan River, self-proclaimed psychics entered the picture, further complicating the situation.
Rescuers said the interference of self-proclaimed experts did more than mislead the public – it disrupted legitimate search efforts. Their unsolicited “advice” and attempts to direct search teams gained traction on social media.
“I have been a rescuer for several years, and I encountered some psychics giving us suggestions on where to find the victim. None of the predictions ever came true,” said Manuel Jeffrey Jizmundo, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Terence June Toriano, head of the Kalibo Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, explained their search and rescue procedures: “We conduct risk assessments, talk to those with local knowledge, and use scientific search methods.”
Toriano said unverified claims only serve as distractions. – Rappler.com