Claim: Negros Oriental 2nd District Representative Manuel “Chiquiting” Sagarbarria warned Negros Oriental residents that they will not receive cash aid from the government if they attend a candle lighting rally to show support for former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The false post has garnered 5,900 shares, 7,200 reactions, and 4,100 comments as of writing. The graphic includes photos of Sagarbarria, his wife and Dumaguete City Vice Mayor Maisa Sagarbarria, and their son and Negros Oriental Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria.
The post’s caption adds, “Ingon ni [Congressman] Sagarbarria nga bawal gyod mo attend sa candle lighting rally bahin sa kang Duterte kay naay alyansa ang pamilya Sagarbarria sa Marcos administration.”
(Congressman Sagarbarria said people are not allowed to attend a candle lighting rally for Duterte because the Sagarbarria family has an alliance with the Marcos administration.”
The facts: The Sagarbarria family patriarch called the viral post “fake news” and “panghulga (intimidation)” in a video interview published by local media on March 16.
“Klaro kaayo nang fake news kay wala man jud ko nisulti ana (It’s clearly fake news because I never said that),” Sagarbarria said when asked about the false claim.
He added: “Kana gud among kaatbang, ila gud pung naandan sukad sa ilang pila ka-tuig na niagi, mao ra gyud ila nahibal-an — panghulga ra gyud.”
(Our opponents, what they’ve been used to the past years and all they know is just intimidation).
The incumbent governor also shared a separate news report about his father’s statement, making reference to the opposing camp in his caption and saying that his family does not choose who they help.
Political alliances: The Sagarbarrias are running in the upcoming May 2025 midterm elections under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC)-Kasaligan. The NPC is part of the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate.
The Negros Oriental representative also signed the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte earlier this year.
Duterte arrest: The false claim circulated as former president Duterte was arrested through a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody drug war, which killed close to 30,000 people according to tallies by human rights groups. (READ MORE: Duterte’s ICC arrest: Reactions, explainers, analyses, opinions)
The move sparked outrage from pro-Duterte groups, with rallies being mobilized across the country, including Liwasang Bonifacio and several places in Mindanao, to call for the former president’s return to the country.
Previous fact-checks: Duterte’s arrest has also prompted a deluge of disinformation. Rappler has already debunked these false claims:
- FACT CHECK: Quote card on Duterte arrest cites fictional lawyer Elle Woods
- FACT CHECK: Duterte not back in Davao, still detained at the ICC
- FACT CHECK: Chinese warplane did not escort plane carrying Duterte to ICC
- FACT CHECK: No reports of MNLF, MILF plot vs Marcos gov’t over Duterte arrest
- FACT CHECK: Duterte arrest not a cover-up for Tantoco’s death
– Shay Du/Rappler.com
Shay Du 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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