By I. Inojales | 04:48 PM June 20, 2026
Balilihan Mayor Trisha Chatto has urged the public to exercise caution in sharing unverified information on social media following reports of a brown deer allegedly spotted in the town.
In a statement released on Saturday, June 20, Chatto clarified that there is currently no validated information confirming the reported sighting of a brown deer in Barangay Hanopol, Balilihan.
While expressing hope that the report could be true, given the significance of having a rare wildlife species in the area, Chatto stressed the importance of verifying information before it is widely shared online.
“I would be very happy if this were true. Who wouldn’t be excited to know that a rare species is present in our locality? But we need to make sure that the information being circulated on social media is accurate,” she said.
The mayor appealed to anyone who may have seen the animal to report the matter to their barangay captain or the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (MPDC) so the local government can coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for proper assessment and action.
Chatto said she attempted to contact the original uploader of the video circulating online but received no response. She also noted that efforts by local media to verify the report had been unsuccessful.
According to the mayor, the original social media post has since become unavailable, raising further questions about the authenticity of the claim and whether the footage was indeed taken in Balilihan.
READ: Endangered Philippine Spotted Deer conserved in Loay through captive-breeding program
The alleged deer sighting has already been shared by several media outlets and social media pages, despite the absence of official confirmation.
Chatto warned that if the report turns out to be false, it would highlight the irresponsible use of social media and the dangers of spreading unverified information.
“The rampant creation and sharing of fake news is one of the reasons society is increasingly filled with distrust, creating further division among people,” she said.
She added that while the issue may appear harmless if no one was directly harmed, it demonstrates how easily misinformation can spread online.
The mayor encouraged the public to be more discerning and responsible when posting, sharing, and believing information on social media, emphasizing the need for fact-checking before amplifying reports that have not been independently verified.
