FACT CHECK: INC rally misrepresented as protest against VP Sara arrest warrant - Rappler
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Claim: A video shows a commotion breaking out between a crowd and the police following an arrest order for Vice President Sara Duterte.
Why we fact-checked this: The post bearing the claim has already received 61,000 views, 205 shares, and 123 comments as of writing. It was posted on September 8, days after the Vice President posted bail for her grave threats case at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC).
The video shows a commotion between protesters and policemen. Text overlaid on the Facebook reel reads, “Sabi niyo magagalit ang taong bayan pag di natuloy ang impeachment! Bakit nagkakagulo nung inaresto niyo si VP? Nagkamali kayo ng ginalaw!”
(You said the public would be outraged if the impeachment didn’t push through! So why was there an uproar when you arrested the VP? You messed with the wrong person!)
Several Facebook users believed that the protest shown in the video was indeed a rally against Duterte’s arrest. One comment reads, “[Sige] pa nakakagigil talaga sarap sumali [dyan] ah laban mga kabayan (Keep it up! It’s truly exciting. It would be great to join in on that. Fight on, fellow citizens).”
The facts: The video does not show a recent rally held to oppose the arrest warrant against Duterte. It shows a commotion between the police and members of the Iglesia ni Cristo during the “surprise” protest on June 30 in support of their fellow INC member, Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who was facing a possible arrest at the time.
Although covered by superimposed text, certain landmarks such as the Primex Tower, J&L Building, and the Midway Court Building can still be seen in the video. These buildings are located along EDSA. A commotion between police officers and INC protesters was reported around this site on June 30.
A video posted by ANC 24/7 matches the location of the clash between INC members and uniformed personnel. Establishments in the Midway Court Building such as the Dojo Garage and Vertiflute can be seen in the video. GMA News also reported the commotion on June 30, showing similar scenes of the INC protest.
The misleading Facebook reel misrepresented the INC rally as a protest against Duterte’s arrest warrant. While several supporters gathered at the Quezon City court on September 5 and on September 11 to show support for Duterte ahead of her arraignment, the crowd was smaller than those shown in the INC rally footage.
Arrest warrant: On September 4, the Quezon City RTC Branch 98 issued a warrant of arrest against Duterte in connection with her grave threats case.
The case, filed by the Department of Justice last August, stemmed from Duterte’s alleged threat to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House speaker Martin Romualdez, based on her statements during a November 2024 online press briefing.
On September 5, the Vice President posted a P360,000 bail on for all three counts.
– Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com
Angelee Kaye Abelinde is a student journalist based in Naga City, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024.
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