Claim: A huge crowd of people, with many wearing green — the political campaign color of Vice President Sara Duterte — is shown in a video chanting “Duterte!”
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The claim can be found on a Facebook video posted on November 26 by user Allen Olanolan. As of writing, it has around 11 million plays, 92,000 reactions, 25,300 comments, and 15,000 shares.
The video is divided into two segments: the first one from 0:01 to 0:15 shows a daytime setting, while clips from 0:16 to 0:44 show a crowd of people at night. In both segments, “Duterte!” chants were purportedly heard from the crowd.
The facts: The chants of “Duterte!” in the video are fabricated.
The first part of the video shows the Dubai Run event held on November 24 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dubai-based news outlet Gulf News has video coverage of the event, similar to the clip shown in the misleading Facebook post.
Videos uploaded on November 25 by the YouTube channels NA LOUNGE, Dubai Drive Tour, and Mr parwaiz match the same clip in the Facebook post, but with no “Duterte!” chants. Instead, the videos showed people cheering as an announcer greets the crowd “Good morning, Dubai!”
Previous related fact-checks: The second segment of the misleading video shows a clip taken during the visit of Pope Francis to East Timor last September. The “Duterte” chants were also fabricated. Rappler previously debunked a similar claim that used this clip. Other Rappler fact-checks of fabricated chants include the following:
- MANIPULADONG BIDYO: Kinanta ang isang UniTeam chant sa BTS concert (March 23, 2022)
- FALSE: Cebuanos scream ‘Fuck you’ at Bongbong Marcos during his visit (October 26, 2021)
In the spotlight: The misleading video circulated as Duterte continues to face scrutiny over her office’s use of public funds and, more recently, her public outburst against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. In an online midnight briefing, Duterte said she had arranged the assassination of Marcos, the First Lady, and Speaker Martin Romualdez, in the event that she is killed. (READ: From legal liabilities to disbarment: Gov’t lists consequences of VP Duterte’s Zoom threats)
Duterte now faces a criminal complaint over the “forced transfer” of her chief of staff to a private hospital and a subpoena over her threats against Marcos. She has accused the Marcos administration of harassing her using the anti-terror law. Meanwhile, her supporters flocked to EDSA Shrine to show their support for the Vice President. (READ: Duterte’s disciples? EDSA Shrine flags hundreds of new churchgoers) – Percival Bueser/ Rappler.com
Percival Bueser is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
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