Some Facebook users are sharing an old news clip and claiming it’s reporting that Vice President Sara Duterte has been convicted in the impeachment case against her and barred from running for public office. This is false.
Since Aug. 26, at least three FB netizens have uploaded an authentic clip of a segment from GMA News with anchor Vicky Morales. One version has the overlaid text:
“Tama guilty nga hindi na makatakbo si sara Duterte
(It’s true she is guilty, Sara Duterte can no longer run)”
Another reel carries the claim:
“Sa Paskong Darating Sara Duterte mokhang (sic) matitige?
VP SARA DUTERTE GUILTY. DUMATING NA ANG KATAPOSAN (sic) NG KARIR SA PULITIKA NG MGA DUTERTE, DDS NAG IIYAKAN NA
(This coming Christmas Sara Duterte might be gone)
VP Sara Duterte guilty. The end of the Dutertes’ political career has come. The DDS is already weeping).”
This is not true. The Senate impeachment court has not yet issued a verdict on Duterte’s case as the trial is still ongoing.
The original news item, published on May 7, was about the report of the House Committee on Justice hearing on the Articles of Impeachment they submitted to the Senate.
The report contains House Resolution No. 989, in which the committee urged the senator-judges to declare Duterte guilty, remove her from office, and bar her from holding any government position.
The impeachment courtroom will vote to convict or acquit Duterte only after the prosecution and defense panels will have finished presenting their evidence in the trial slated to last 92 days.
Under Article XI, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution, conviction requires the concurrence of two-thirds of all the members of the Senate, or 16 votes.
The false videos surfaced on the eighth week of the trial, which centered on allegations that Duterte misused P500 million in confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million in the education department when Duterte was secretary.
Published by three FB users, the videos have been viewed over 283,000 times with 11,900 reactions; 4,485 comments; and 1,790 shares.
