A TikTok video from 2021 is again making rounds on social media, carrying with it a list of claims, one of which is that the Philippines has developed the “strongest war weapon in the world” under the term of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

CLAIM:

Under the term of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the Philippines developed one of the strongest war weapons in the world – “Bongbong 1” – a missile rocket developed under the “Santa Barbara Project.”

RATING:

FALSE

FACTS:

While the Marcos administration has indeed ordered the development of multiple types of missiles under the classified “Santa Barbara Project,” little has been known about the so-called “Bongbong 1” rocket, thus there is no basis to say it is one of the strongest war weapons in the world, as the video claims. There is a mention, however, in the 1972 almanac of US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of “Bongbong II,” which it described as the country’s “first liquid-propellant rocket” but no evidence has been shown to ascertain its fire power.

The Santa Barbara Project was discontinued after the Marcos administration, for undisclosed reasons, and the Bongbong rockets’ fate has never been fully disclosed. Despite the existence of such classified weapons development project decades before, the Philippines remains to have “weaknesses in territorial defense,” as the Philippine Air Force admits in their strategic plan called “Flight Plan 2028.”

WHY THIS MATTERS:

Amid the escalating dispute in the West Philippine Sea, territorial defense has become one of the hotly debated topics during the 2022 campaign season. Unverified claims that the country has once developed strong war weapons only not only veer the debate away from key issues but may also lead to further confusion. The TikTok user @marymy143 who uploaded the video has 93,600 thousand followers, and as of writing, the video has reached 788,800 thousand views and continues to circulate in various social networking platforms. – Joemilyn Abareta & Ma. Connie Naag

Altermidya Network is part of #FactsFirstPH which brings together various sectors that are committed to promoting truth in the public space, and exacting accountability on those who harm it with lies. For those interested to join the initiative, email info@factsfirst.ph.