No report by Mel Tiangco on fake Belo serum ad 

The manipulated video of Tiangco reporting on the alleged anti-aging serum was posted by a fake Facebook page posing as dermatologist Dr. Vicki Belo

Claim: A GMA News report features Dr. Vicki Belo’s ginseng serum, which claims to have skin rejuvenation benefits.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: A Facebook page claiming to be associated with Belo posted a video on April 14. As of writing, the video has garnered 1.5 million views, 13,000 reactions, 6,400 comments, and 864 shares.

In the video, GMA News anchor Mel Tiangco is shown reporting on the launch of Belo’s new product. Tiangco supposedly said, “Shocking! Si Dr. Vicki Belo may bagong method na naman to help mga women in their 50s ma-achieve ang plump at youthful na skin, parang 20 years old ulit.”

(Shocking! Dr. Vicki Belo has a new method to help women in their 50s achieve plump and youthful skin like a 20-year-old.)

Tiangco further added that the product had gone viral on social media and was noticed by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

An alleged FDA product registration document is shown on screen while an unknown individual’s voice, supposedly from the FDA, is heard saying, “Naka-receive kami ng report tungkol sa super powerful na skin rejuvenation serum, after that, dinala agad ang product sample sa lab for testing, base sa results sobrang effective siya.”

(We received a report about a super powerful skin rejuvenation serum, so we tested it in the laboratory. Results show that it is effective.)

These were followed by clips of Belo, where she explains the benefits of the product, and clips of satisfied customers. The post then instructs interested buyers to send a private message to order the product.

The facts: Both the supposed GMA News report and the Belo ad are fake. The video of Tiangco reporting about the serum is manipulated, and there are no official reports from GMA News regarding the said product.

Rappler has previously debunked a similar ad of Belo supposedly promoting the same product. The fact-check revealed that Belo’s video and voice were manipulated to make it appear as though she was endorsing the serum.

As early as 2021, Belo already warned the public about her name and image being used in fake advertisements. She said that official Belo products can only be bought at their clinics and official channels.

Fake FDA registration: The serum, identified as “Korean Ginseng Collagen Serum” in the ad’s alleged FDA registration, is actually not part of the Philippine FDA’s list of registered products.

The supposed FDA registration document shown in the ad does not bear the Philippine FDA’s name and logo, contrary to the claim. Instead, it cited the United States FDA. The document also shows that a certain German pharmaceutical stock company was registered, and did not mention the “Ginseng Serum” product specifically.

Fake page: The page that posted the ad does not belong to Belo. Its bio also deceptively claims that it has 17 million followers, compared to the actual figures of only 1,700 followers. Additionally, its profile picture includes an edited blue checkmark to appear legitimate.

Based on the fake page’s transparency report, it was only created on July 2, 2024, and was originally named “Japanese Herbal Bubble Shampoo.” It also has 13 administrators based in Vietnam.

The official Belo page, meanwhile, was created in 2016, is legitimately verified, has 2.4 million followers, and has administrators based in the Philippines.

Debunked: Rappler has previously fact-checked several false claims involving the Filipino dermatologist:

– Lyndee Buenagua/Rappler.com

Lyndee Buenagua is a student journalist based in Baguio and Naga, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024.

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