Claim: The Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) posted a livestream video of Filipino physician Ofelia Samar-Sy endorsing a cure for arthritis and joint pain.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: A Facebook page claiming to be the POC posted the video advertisement on May 20. As of writing, the video has garnered 8.7 million views, 34,000 reactions, and 5,500 comments.
The ad featured a purported livestream video of Dr. Samar-Sy, which had over 1,000 viewers, introducing an alleged cure for arthritis and joint pain. The doctor is shown claiming that the product has already cured over 3 million patients after three weeks of use.
She further claims that the product is safe, contains natural products, is used by the POC, and is registered with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The video also claims a supposed collaboration between the POC and PhilHealth to provide 70% financial support for those who will purchase the product during the livestream. The post’s caption includes a link to an order form for the product “Bee Venom Plus.”
The facts: Dr. Samar-Sy has already debunked ads using her name to falsely imply her endorsement. Rappler fact-checked a similar post where the doctor is shown promoting a bee venom product. In a Facebook statement on May 17, she clarified that she is not affiliated with these products.
“This is a deepfake simulation created without my consent, falsely using my identity and the name of the Philippine Orthopedic Center to promote a product I have never endorsed which in fact may be harmful,” she wrote.
She clarified that the product involved has no FDA approval, contrary to what was claimed in the manipulated video ad.
Fake page: The Facebook page that posted the advertisement merely copied and used the official logo and content of the POC. It has only 696 likes and 901 followers compared to POC’s official Facebook page, which has 11,000 likes and 14,000 followers.
In 2024, the POC warned the public about fake pages posing as the center. “The DOH continues to enjoin the public to source information only from legitimate sources and platforms,” it wrote.
The fake page’s transparency report also indicates that it was only created on May 7, 2025, and has administrators based in Vietnam. The POC’s official page was created in 2022 and has administrators based in the Philippines.
Not a livestream: The misleading video ad was edited to appear like a livestream. It has a fake viewer count and comments from supposed users expressing interest in the product or recommending it.
Dubious website: The link provided in the caption redirects users to a website containing official logos of the DOH, POC, and FDA to appear legitimate. The website itself, however, is not affiliated with any of the three agencies.
The website contains an order form for the product, asking interested buyers to provide their names, phone numbers, and full address. This potentially exposes the public to scams and phishing attempts. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing).
Not registered: The product “Bee Venom Plus” is not included in the FDA’s list of registered products,
Debunked: Rappler has previously fact-checked several false claims involving “Bee Venom” products and deepfake content:
- 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 student journalist based in Baguio and Naga, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 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.