THE Department of Health (DOH) 7 has debunked a viral social media post accusing an individual of spreading HIV in the region, warning that such claims violate confidentiality laws and fuel harmful stigma.
DOH 7, in a statement posted on its Facebook page on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, denied involvement in or endorsement of the circulating post.
A Facebook page named Bohol Updated News on June 26, posted a photo of a shirtless man and alleged he has human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), warning the public he was spreading the disease
The Facebook page accused the individual of engaging in sexual activities with various partners. It also cited the DOH HIV tracking team as its source of information.
“A man… was reportedly spreading HIV in areas of Bohol and Cebu, according to information allegedly released by the DOH HIV Tracking Team,” reads a portion of the post.
It further claimed the DOH had called on the public to report the man’s location to prevent further transmission — a statement not supported by any official communication from the agency.
“We strongly deny involvement in or endorsement of recent social media posts identifying an individual allegedly spreading HIV in Central Visayas. Publicly naming or accusing any person without due process is a violation of their rights and contributes to harmful stigma and discrimination,” DOH 7 said.
The agency cited Republic Act 11166, or the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, which protects the privacy of individuals living with or being tested for HIV.
The agency said publicly identifying anyone without legal basis not only breaches the law, but also endangers efforts to curb the spread of the virus.
DOH 7 reminded the public that discrimination remains a major barrier to HIV prevention and treatment.
It called for compassion, factual awareness and responsible sharing of information both online and offline.
The health department urged the media and the public to be cautious when discussing public health matters.
It also called on the public to avoid circulating unverified content and to report such posts to the appropriate platforms. / CDF