A graphic circulating online claims Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said that the arrest of former House speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has outraged the public. This is false.
Posted on Sept. 13, the quote card bears Adiong’s photo and an inset image of Romualdez while in hospital detention with the supposed statement:
“GALIT NA GALIT ANG TAUMBAYAN SA PAG-ARESTO KAY DATING SPEAKER MARTIN ROMUALDEZ.”
(“The public is outraged over the arrest of former speaker Martin Romualdez.”)
While Adiong did speak about Romualdez’ arrest during a press conference of the House prosecution panel in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte. However, he did not mention about public outrage over the detention of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s cousin.
In a video report by ANC 24/7, at time stamp 0:55, the House prosecution panel’s spokesperson said:
“He will face these allegations head on, he will not evade. In fact his confidence in proving his innocence is evident by the fact that he never left the country.”
The same video of the Mindanao lawmaker’s statement was posted by ABS-CBN in an FB reel.
Lawyer-nurse Race Del Rosario debunked the false quote via post on his FB page, saying:
“May totoong pahayag si Adiong tungkol kay Romualdez, pero hindi iyon ang nasa viral graphic.”
(“Adiong did make a statement about Romualdez, but it is not the one in the viral graphic.)
According to Adiong, the arrest is one way for Romualdez to defend himself. He emphasized the prosecution’s call for impartiality and due process for Romualdez, who was arrested last Sept. 7.
The graphic was posted by FB users and FB page Panda Reports (created February, 2012). Multiple copies were published across several FB accounts and have collectively garnered over 21,734 reactions, 7,551 comments; and 259 shares.
Editor’s Note: This fact check was produced with the help of a journalism student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines as part of their internship at VERA Files.
