A YouTube video claims that Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok Chenda Sophea entered into an alliance with Vice President Sara Duterte during his visit last month and it was solely accomplished by Duterte. This is misleading.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) of Cambodia said the courtesy call on the vice president enabled the two sides to hold “cordial talks on enhancing ties between Cambodia and the Philippines and many aspects of the bilateral cooperation”. There was no forging of an alliance, or signing of an agreement with the OVP, as the video suggested.
Before paying a courtesy call on the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Aug. 28, Sok first met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacanang on Aug. 27.
According to Cambodia’s MFAIC, it was Marcos who “expressed his strong desire to forge stronger ties with Cambodia” during the exchange of views on increasing air connectivity, bilateral trade, investment and tourism.
Uploaded on Sept. 13, more than two weeks after the visit took place, the video’s headline read:
“KAKAPASOK LANG OMG! si VpSara Duterte lang NAKAKAGAWA nito PM ng KINGDOM of CAMBODIA Sumanib sa OVP (Just in omg! Only VP Sara Duterte was able to do this. PM of the Kingdom of Cambodia allied with the OVP)?”
Its thumbnail also bore the text: “KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA! BUMISITA SA OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT! GOODNEWS! SANIB-PWERSA NA (Visited the office of the vice president! Good news! Joined forces now)?”
The Cambodian deputy minister, who is also minister for foreign relations, was in the Philippines on Aug. 27-28, 2024 for an official visit and to co-chair the Fourth Meeting of the Cambodia-Philippines Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation.
The visit was upon the invitation of his local counterpart, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. During their bilateral meeting, the two sides expressed deep satisfaction with the progress in cooperation and committed to further enhance relations in multiple fields.
Some netizens in the comments section believed that the visit was an expression of support for Duterte amid criticisms of the OVP’s alleged misuse of public funds.
One comment said “BLESSINGS TALAGA YAN KSI KONG SINO PA ANG BINABATIKOS YAN PA ANG MADAMING SUPPORTA (This is a blessing because she who is being criticized is the one receiving so much support)” while another one read “Mabuhay VP ikaw na pinupuntahan ng foreign leaders (Long live VP! You’re now the one being visited by foreign leaders)!”
Uploaded by previously fact-checked YouTube channel PINAS NEWS INSIDER (created Dec. 26, 2015), the video has received over 121,874 views.
