A Facebook user posted a truncated news clip from GMA News’ Saksi about the April 30 Court of Appeals ruling on a drug case involving newly sworn-in Rep. Leila De Lima, claiming that the former senator is returning to jail. This is misleading.
Uploaded on May 16, the 1-minute and 29-second reel featured a report by broadcaster Pia Arcangel, with superimposed text that read:
“News Alert: De lima Back to prison again? Plano pa sana maging judge sa impeachment Trial ni VP Sarah! (She plans to become a judge in the impeachment trial of VP Sara).”
The caption of the erroneous post also states:
“News Alert!!!! De Lima muling babalik sa kanyang lungga! (De Lima going back to her den)
kittyduterte #SARAHDUTERTE #eBulgar #RodrigoDuterte #BosesNgMasa”
De Lima is not going back to jail.
The introduction of the news report was cut to make it appear that Arcangel said, “Balik kulungan si De Lima” (“De Lima is back to jail”).
In the original clip, Arcangel said, “Ayon naman sa kampo ni de Lima, hindi ito nangangahulugang balik kulungan si De Lima” (According to De Lima’s camp, this does not mean that De Lima will go back to jail).”
The latter part of the video, which originally showed a statement from De Lima, was also omitted. In that segment, De Lima — who was sworn in on May 19 as nominee of Mamamayang Liberal (ML) partylist in the House of Representatives— clarified that the CA decision, which was published on May 15, does not mean her acquittal is no longer valid because the ruling is still subject to an appeal.
“Final and unappealable ang aking acquittal dahil sa prinsipyo ng double jeopardy, habang appealable pa naman hanggang Supreme Court ang desisyon ng CA. Sa ngayon, mas matimbang pa rin ang pagpapawalang-sala sa akin ng RTC,” her statement read.
She emphasized that the CA did not overturn her acquittal but only instructed the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) to clarify its decision on her case.
The misleading video surfaced a day after the CA nullified the Muntinlupa RTC’s decision acquitting De Lima and her former aide Ronnie Dayan of drug charges in 2023.
It has garnered 1.1 million views, 18,000 reactions, 3,500 shares, and 2,800 comments at the time of writing.
