A clip claiming that a former navy commander refused to accept MOU 44, allegedly prompting the government to dismiss him, has misled more than 2 million viewers.
Thai PBS Verify found the source of the information from: Reels
A screenshot shows the post claiming that the navy commander refused to accept MOU 44.
Thai PBS Verify found that a Facebook user named Arunya Namwong posted a Reels clip with the caption: “If you dare, transfer him. Dismiss him!! said the navy commander!!”. The clip shows Adm. Jirapol Wongwith, former Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, along with overlaid text stating:
“Navy chief: If you dare, transfer me! Dismiss me! PM and Defense Minister were embarrassed. Navy stands firm!! Breaks with the government. Declares victory by upholding the royal decree. Rejects MOU 44. We are the King’s soldiers, not anyone’s servants.”
The clip has been viewed more than 2.1 million times and shared over 2,100 times. It was posted on 28 September 2025, and most commenters believed the statements were genuinely made by the former navy commander.
In addition, similar clips have been shared across Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook, spreading the same misleading content further.
Old image from 2024 reused to mislead
Thai PBS Verify checked the image used in the post with Google Lens and found that it matches a news report titled “New Navy Chief to Discuss Submarine Plan with Big Auan; Denies Purchase of German Submarine” published by Khaosod on 30 September 2024.
The image came from an interview given after the official handover ceremony of the Navy Commander-in-Chief position, during which he spoke about the submarine program and the procurement of a frigate. It has no connection whatsoever to MOU 44.
Results from Google Lens confirm the image matches a news report from 2024.
Navy spokesperson confirms it is fake news
Thai PBS Verify also contacted RAdm. Parat Rattanachaipan, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy (click to view the archived original content), to verify whether the statements truly came from Adm. Jirapol. The Navy spokesperson confirmed the claim is not true, stating:
“The Royal Thai Navy has never taken any position regarding MOU 44, whether to cancel it or not.”and
“The Navy continues to perform its duties in accordance with the Constitution.”
Parat Rattanachaipan, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy
No such statements were found in any other media outlets during that period.
- 26 September 2025 — Before his retirement, Adm. Jirapol Wongwith presided over a ceremony honoring officers reaching retirement age in 2025 and those resigning early under the Ministry of Defence’s early retirement program. The event took place at the Chao Phraya Hall, Royal Thai Navy Auditorium, Bangkok Yai District, Bangkok.
On that day, there were no interviews or remarks resembling the claims made in the misleading post.
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A screenshot shows a post from the Royal Thai Navy Public Relations page, which makes no mention of the statements claimed in the misleading clip.
- 28 September 2025 — Adm. Jirapol Wongwith formally retired on this date, with an official handover ceremony held the same day. There was no mention of any remarks resembling those fabricated in the viral post.
In addition, a keyword search using Google Search Engine found no reports of the statements claimed in the clip.
What is the truth?
Google Lens verification shows that the image used in the clip comes from a Khaosod news report dated 30 September 2024, which discussed the navy’s submarine program and the procurement of a frigate. It did not mention MOU 44 or any conflict with the government as portrayed in the viral clip.
RAdm. Parat Rattanachaipan, the Navy spokesperson, stated that the statements in the clip are not true and reiterated that the Navy has never taken any position regarding MOU 44 and continues to perform its duties in accordance with the Constitution.
Further review of news reports from the period when the clip was published shows that Adm. Jirapol Wongwith appeared at his retirement ceremony on 26 September 2025, and again at the official handover on 28 September 2025. At neither event did he give any interview or make any remarks resembling those claimed in the viral clip.
Therefore, the statements and the clip claiming to show the former navy commander challenging the government and rejecting MOU 44 are false information, created using old footage combined with distorted text. They do not reflect the words or stance of Adm. Jirapol Wongwith in any way.
Verification Process
- Analyzed the origin of the clip
The same clip was found circulating across multiple platforms — Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook — indicating widespread redistribution.
- Checked keywords using Google Search Engine
No news reports or official statements matching the claims in the clip were found.
- Verified the images and video using Google Lens
The clip’s visuals matched a Khaosod news report from 30 September 2024, when Adm. Jirapol Wongwith had just assumed the position of navy commander. In that interview, he spoke only about the submarine and frigate procurement programs — not MOU 44 or any political issue.
- Confirmed with the relevant agency
Thai PBS Verify contacted RAdm. Parat Rattanachaipan, the Navy spokesperson, who confirmed that the claims in the clip are false. The Royal Thai Navy has never taken any stance regarding MOU 44 and continues performing its duties under the Constitution.
- Checked the timeline and real context of the person mentioned
News reports and official activities in late September 2025 show that Adm. Jirapol participated only in his retirement ceremony and the formal handover event. He made no statements or interviews related to MOU 44 during that period.
Impacts of false information
- Impact on individuals
Adm. Jirapol, whose name was invoked, may be wrongly perceived by the public as criticizing the government or taking a political stance, even though he never made such remarks.
- Impact on institutions
The Royal Thai Navy may be misinterpreted as being in conflict with the government or refusing to follow executive policy, harming the institution’s image and credibility.
- Impact on society at large
False information of this kind can distort political understanding, inflame public sentiment, deepen divisions, and reduce trust in accurate and verified news sources.
What to do with this misinformation?
When encountering clips or posts containing sensitive political content, you should:
- Avoid sharing immediately, even if the message aligns with your own beliefs.
- Check the original source to see whether it comes from credible outlets such as Thai PBS, Thai News Agency, or an official government website.
- Use image or video verification tools like Google Lens to see whether the material has appeared previously in another context.
- Compare with mainstream media to see if the same issue is being reported. If major media outlets are not covering it, that is often a sign the information is unreliable.
- Report the false post to the platform so that it can be reviewed and removed if containing misleading content.
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