BALILIHAN, Bohol Mayor Atty. Trisha V. Chatto on Saturday said there is no validated information confirming a brown deer was spotted in Balilihan town, despite a video claiming such a sighting going viral on social media and being picked up by several news outlets.
In a statement, Chatto said she had been unable to verify the video, which was originally posted on Facebook by an account identified as Kanoto Manaloto and reportedly showed a brown deer in Barangay Hanopol.
She said the original post has since become unsearchable, prompting further questions about its authenticity.
Chatto said she reached out directly to the account that posted the video but received no response.
She said she also contacted the writer of a related item published on the DYTR Facebook page seeking validation, but did not get a reply.
She added that she had posted inquiries on DYTR and DYRD’s pages asking whether either outlet had verified the claim with the original source.
The mayor said that while a sighting of a rare species in the area would be welcome news, officials must first confirm whether the information being circulated is accurate.
She asked anyone who has actually seen the animal to report it to the mayor’s office or the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator so the matter can be coordinated with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Chatto cautioned that if the claim turns out to be false, it would represent an irresponsible use of social media, calling unverified posts a contributor to the spread of misinformation and public distrust.
She urged residents to be more careful before posting, sharing or believing news online, saying the episode illustrates how easily false information can spread even when it appears harmless.
As of Saturday, no government agency had confirmed the presence of a brown deer in Balilihan or verified the original video’s location or authenticity.