FACT CHECK: Quote of DPWH’s Dizon threatening case vs vlogger is fabricated

Claim: Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon said the following statement, as seen in multiple quote cards circulating online: “Doon sa matabang vlogger na nagpunta sa llocos wag mo akong pangunahan at siraan alam mo bang pwede kitang kasohan sa ginagawa mo sinasabi mo na iniiwasan ko yang ILOCOS.” 

(To the stout vlogger who went to Ilocos, do not get ahead of me and slander me, you know I can file a case against you for saying that I am avoiding Ilocos.)

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: Several Facebook posts are spreading the quote cards, with the following being four examples of prominent posts circulating online: 

• From the page “Jay sonza” by the former broadcaster with the same name, dated January 27, with around 1,400 comments and 204 shares as of writing; 
• From the page “Political Media” dated January 27, with around 41,000 reactions, 18,200 comments, and 942 shares as of writing;
• From the account named CristyClaville Tagnipez dated January 27, with around 24,000 reactions, 10,600 comments, and 662 shares as of writing;
• From the page named “Pinoy Updates” dated January 27, with around 19,000 reactions, 8,500 comments, and 598 shares as of writing (the quote card here mentioned only up to the word “siraan”).

The quote was also seen spreading on numerous YouTube videos. 

Dizon’s supposed statement may have been referring to alleged remarks by a vlogger who visited Ilocos Norte and pointed out that Dizon has not gone to the region to inspect the infrastructure projects there. The posts imply that amid the investigations into alleged corruption in the government’s infrastructure projects, the public works secretary has not probed alleged irregularities in projects in Ilocos Norte, a known bailiwick of the Marcos political clan.

The facts: In an email to Rappler on February 4, DPWH said the following regarding the posts spreading the alleged quote from Dizon: “We confirm that the social media posts mentioned in your inquiry are false. Secretary Vince Dizon did not make this statement, and the content is not an official DPWH communication.”

None of the posts and videos spreading the fabricated quote included a clip of Dizon saying the statement or an official DPWH communication containing it.

Updates on Dizon: Since the flood control controversy broke out, the DPWH secretary has vowed to investigate alleged anomalies in infrastructure projects and the contractors linked to them. He also said that future flood control projects would be closely monitored.

On January 14, Dizon recently ordered the reopening of the road that connects Bukidnon to Northern Mindanao and Davao, in an effort to halt economic losses following the collapse of a part of the road due to a landslide on October 18, 2025. (READ: Dizon reopens Bukidnon road, restoring vital Northern Mindanao-Davao link)

Previous related fact-checks: Rappler has fact-checked multiple false quotes over the years. Its latest published fact-check of a fabricated quote was on February 6, which was of a false claim regarding the lack of witnesses in the Philippines’ war on drugs.

As for Sonza, Rappler has fact-checked several of his posts over the years. Its latest published fact-check of a post from Sonza was on February 2, in which Sonza spread a purported medical report of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which turned out to be fabricated. – Percival Bueser/Rappler.com

Percival Bueser is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

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