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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
An impostor Facebook page of the Philippine Orthopedic Center posted a deepfake interview of actress Maritoni Fernandez showing her supposedly endorsing an alleged cure for arthritis or gout
Claim: Filipina actress Maritoni Fernandez is endorsing a natural cure for arthritis and gout, as posted by the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC).
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: A Facebook page claiming to be the Philippine Orthopedic Center posted the video advertisement on April 24, 2025.
The post included a video of actress Maritoni Fernandez interviewed by host Toni Gonzaga. In the video, Fernandez is shown saying that she got cured of chronic arthritis after using a natural solution daily for less than a week.
She further alleges that the product is also endorsed by her friend, a doctor from POC, and is approved by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The ad included a website link where the supposed cure can be bought. Clicking the link directed users to an alleged POC website containing the details and benefits of the product “Bee Venom Advanced Joint and Bone Care Cream.”
As of writing, the ad has garnered 490,000 views, 2,400 reactions, 365 comments, and 232 shares.
The facts: The video has been manipulated. It used a 2023 video of Fernandez and manipulated both the audio and mouth movements to make it seem that she is endorsing the supposed arthritis cure.
In the original video, which was posted on the YouTube account “Toni Gonzaga Studio,” the actress was discussing her journey in battling breast cancer, and not promoting a product.
Fake page: The fake Facebook page, created on April 20 — only four days before the ad was posted— only used the official logo and name of POC.
POC is a government medical facility under the DOH that provides health care to patients with musculoskeletal disorder and related conditions. Its official Facebook page was created on July 3, 2022.
The fake POC page has only 44 likes and 54 followers, while the official page has 10,000 likes and 13,000 followers.
On January 6, POC already issued a clarification regarding a similar false claim, stating that it does not endorse any medical product. The center also advised the public not to believe fake accounts and websites.
Furthermore, the fake page’s page transparency report indicates that its two administrators are based in Vietnam. Rappler’s previous fact-check articles have noted that having Vietnam-based administrators is a characteristic of other fake pages promoting unregistered products.
Not FDA registered: Bee Venom Advanced Joint and Bone Care Cream is not on the Philippine FDA’s list of registered products, contrary to the claim.
Suspicious link: The link provided in the caption directs to a fake POC website. Its official website has a different link, content, and layout.
The fake website contains dubious information about the product, including recommendations from other people, and an order form. This order form requires buyers to input their name, phone number, and address, potentially exposing them to phishing attempts. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing).
Debunked: Rappler has previously fact-checked several false claims involving edited videos endorsing “Bee Venom” products.
- FACT CHECK: Ad of Filipino doctor pushing cure for bone and joint pain uses deepfake
- FACT CHECK: Arthritis ‘cure’ ad uses deepfake video of Filipino doctor
- FACT CHECK: Fake Philippine General Hospital page promotes arthritis ‘cure’
- FACT CHECK: Ad for joint pain ‘cure’ uses AI-edited video of Filipino doctor –
– Lyndee Buenagua/Rappler.com
Lyndee Buenagua is a third year college student and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship for 2024.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
