On February 27, Saturday, news publication Rappler released an article about celebrities and influencers boosting Duterte’s propaganda. Among these was a celebrity radio host, DJ Cha Cha.
According to the article, they have conducted an investigation showing the now-banned Twinmark Media Enterprises’ usage of personalities to spread disinformation.
The article says: “Radio personality DJ Chacha was also on Twinmark’s payroll from March 2017 to May 2017. She was paid P30,000 per month. She mostly shared socialpees.com and filcommunity.com, questionable sites known for their clickbait, misleading, or false information.”
According to Rappler, their proof was obtained through documents. These files showed that DJ Cha Cha and actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith were paid by the website via their management, Vidanes Celebrity Marketing (VCM).
The article also said that Rappler was waiting for the response of the radio personality.
On her defense, she wrote on her Twitter account that she did not reply because VCM was the one answering the issue. Additionally, DJ Cha Cha pointed that the article’s title was misleading, without presenting any evidence of her post containing propaganda for Duterte.
Hi Bonz! I didn't reply because VCM management replied on behalf of their talents. But still, the headline is misleading show evidence na may propaganda yung post ko. https://t.co/RV6sdZSLwm
— DJ Chacha (@_djchacha) February 27, 2021
However, a netizen named @ronfrtlz confronted the radio host by saying that she misunderstood the whole article. According to him, the article only stated that she only shared sites that were questionable knowing that the websites were known for clickbait and misleading information.
https://twitter.com/ronfrtlz/status/1365932423414865921
With this, netizens question which side the radio personality is really on.
@bot_pseudonym agreed with the observation done by a fellow netizen. However, the Twitter user was in doubt whether she did not understand the article or it is just her way to divert the issue.
https://twitter.com/bot_pseudonym/status/1366299408703229957
Meanwhile, @rczjr417 wanted the radio host to answer yes or no. This was the desire of the netizen, to make DJ Cha Cha forget about technicalities and answer whether she has something to do with the sharing of questionable sites or not.
Its just a matter of Yes or No. As simple as that. Dont hide behind technicalities churvaah!!! 😏🙄
— Ricky Zerrudo (@rczjr417) February 28, 2021
@Alvinmoleramar1, after DJ Cha Cha did not give her feedback regarding the claim of Rappler, has questioned whether the personality is a Duterte supporter or not.
https://twitter.com/Alvinmoleramar1/status/1365822802155118593
DJ Cha Cha, who has been looking for evidence that she indeed shared fake news articles, a netizen reiterated the previous post that her Facebook page has posted. The @soondeactivat3d also blasted the radio host, who was searching for evidence has already got one, which was already on her page.
Hindi pa ito resibo? Magulat ka deposit slip / online transfer na yung ipost nila gurl. pic.twitter.com/CPI6vKZpux
— LharbyAñober (@soondeactivat3d) February 27, 2021
@bryanC25 stressed that her page shared malicious contents which were from Twinmark Media Enterprises. With a fake news peddler such as Twinmark, the information it spreads is also doubtful, knowing for a fact that it is a fake news peddler.
Ang Point po kasi.. nag si share ang page ninyo ng content/articles mula sa pagmamay ari ng Twinmark na nagpapalaganap ng Fake News noon. Yun kasi ang point dun.
— BryanM (@bryanC25) February 28, 2021
@rr_alinea accused the radio personality of being a fake news peddler. The netizen also urged the radio host to resign, as a form of respect to her station, TV5.
effing peddler of fake news, resign ka na po, mahiya ka sa tv5 mgt at sir ted
— Ross (@rr_alinea) February 28, 2021
With DJ Cha Cha not answering the question, @macoyestrella asked if the radio host denies the allegations of Rappler or not. Moreover, the netizen emphasized that the personality was looking for evidence but never dismissed the claim from the publication.
https://twitter.com/macoyestrella/status/1365814605700718593
With the issue that the celebrity is dealing with, a netizen suggested that she issue an open letter, answering the allegations thrown at her by Rappler. @lamighangin accented that since the publication accused her of being included on Twinmark’s payroll, this could be the perfect time to clear her name and her management.
We hope you issue an open letter.
Ano mga nagawa in the past ng mgt na wala kang kamuwang-muwang.
Paano natigil. Sinabihan ka ba kung natigil na.Hayagang sinabi ng Rappler sino ang may kaugnayan sa Twinmark. Maaari niyo gamitin itong panahon para linawin na tutol kayo sa peke
— 🦋 🦇h☁l💨m⚡w (@lamighangin) February 28, 2021
VCM founder Elizabeth Vidanes affirmed that the agency indeed had an agreement with Fernando Hicban, one of the owners of Twinmark. According to Vidanes, their deal was for their talents to “promote health-related, positive-vibe articles.”
However, Rappler did not find the posts to be “health-related, positive-vibe articles.”
And with DJ Cha Cha drifting away from the issue, netizens have their own conclusion whether she has been used as a tool for the administration’s scheme or not. Nevertheless, as long as she insists that the title of the article was misleading, people would think that she sides with the government.
