📸 Councilor Tek Ocampo facebook page
* Slams report linking Davao City Civil Registrar’s Office on scandalBy Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Council urged media professionals, especially those in national outlets, to ensure the accuracy of their reports before publishing following a misleading story that damaged the reputation of the city government.
Councilor Temujin “Tek” Ocampo, Committee on Environment and Natural Resources chair, in a privileged speech last Tuesday’s session, expressed disappointment over how national media circulated unverified reports.
Drawing from his nearly 30 years of experience as a media practitioner, Ocampo emphasized that journalism is rooted in accountability, truth, and public service.
He condemned spreading false information, stating that such practices distort reality, weaken public trust, and undermine credible institutions. He underscored that responsible reporting should enlighten and inform, not mislead or confuse.
Ocampo’s speech came in response to reports claiming that Lanao del Sur First District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong supported legal action against four Davao City Civil Registrar’s Office employees for allegedly issuing fraudulent birth certificates to Chinese nationals.
He criticized various media organizations — including Manila Bulletin, Politiko, DZMM Teleradyo, News5, Bombo Radyo Philippines, DWRB 103.9 News FM, and K5 National and International News — for irresponsibly linking Davao City’s registrar’s office to the issue.
The city government declared that Davao’s Civil Registrar’s Office has no jurisdiction over birth registrations in other areas, such as Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, where the alleged incident occurred.
Manila Bulletin has since removed the inaccurate report from its social media platforms.
Ocampo further cited confirmation from the National Bureau of Investigation–Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office, which stated that the four individuals facing charges — filed with the Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao — were from Sta. Cruz, not Davao City’s office.
In July last year, NBI discovered about 200 falsified birth certificates issued to Chinese nationals from 2018 to 2019 in Sta. Cruz. This came up after NBI 11 apprehended a Chinese national who allegedly had a fraudulent birth certificate issued at the municipality’s LCR office.
Ocampo stressed that the damage from the false reports persists despite clarifications, sowing confusion, and mistrust. He pointed out that misinformation is hard to undo once released and called for continuous efforts to correct misrepresentations.
He acknowledged Davao’s local media for maintaining responsible reporting and urged national outlets to consult local journalists when they doubt their sources.
The councilor highlighted that spreading false information isn’t just unethical and carries legal consequences under Philippine laws on defamation and misinformation.
Ocampo encouraged the public to stay vigilant, verify news sources, and report fake news to authorities, promoting a united stand against misinformation.
