An estimated P5 million was allegedly spent on a coordinated online campaign using misleading photographs and videos to portray the flooding in La Union as far worse than actual conditions on the ground.?Impeachment endorser and Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union said the attacks intensified as the province was dealing with successive weather disturbances and heavy rainfall.?’Unang-una, ginastosan po nila tayo. Siguro, tantsa po natin, mga limang milyon po yung ginastos nila para lang siraan po at takutin yung mga tao sa aming probinsya,’ Ortega said in in online press conference.?Ortega has previously spoken publicly against organized disinformation, warning that misleading material circulating through social media can confuse the public and distort legitimate political and policy discussions. ?’Puro naman po coordinated attacks po na galing po sa kakaibang kampo,’ Ortega maintained.?He said some videos circulated as evidence of widespread community flooding actually showed swollen rivers carrying large volumes of rainwater.?’Yung mga iba pong videos na pinapalabas, saka splice videos po, ilog po yun yung mga malalaking ilog namin dito sa probinsya ng La Union,’ Ortega explained.?’Hindi po yun mga communities o mga… o mga part ng mga malalaking komunidad, ilog po yun na malakas po yung flow,’ he added.?Ortega said floodwaters that reached roads were generally shallow enough for vehicles to continue passing and quickly receded once rainfall eased.?He urged the public to verify images and videos before sharing them, particularly during disasters when inaccurate information can cause unnecessary anxiety among residents.?’Marami rin po silang pinapakalat ng mga photos na spliced, pati mga videos na splice,’ Ortega said.?The lawmaker maintained that residents who personally experienced conditions in the province could distinguish actual damage from exaggerated depictions circulated online.