Posts circulating on Facebook claim that Rev. Msgr. Melchor David described the prosecution team in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial as “demons.” This is false.
From July 3 to 7, at least five netizens shared a quote card featuring a photo of David. Three of the posts were shared in a pro-Duterte FB group. The card contained the following text:
“Pari, tinawag na mga Demonyo ang House Prosecution Team sa Impeachment Trial
‘Ang mga itinalaga sa prosecution of this impeachment trial of the VP will be the voice of Satan’
FR. MELCHOR DAVID
(Priest calls House prosecution team in impeachment trial ‘demons’
‘Those appointed to prosecute the vice president in this impeachment trial will be the voice of Satan’
FR. MELCHOR DAVID)!”
David never made such a statement. In fact, in the homily he delivered during the Mass for Truth, Justice and Accountability held on July 2, the priest said the prosecutors would be the “voice of God” in the impeachment proceedings.
A portion of his message stated:
“Kayong ang mga itinalaga sa prosecution (You who were appointed to the prosecution) of this impeachment trial of the vice president will be the voice of God, addressing the Filipino people to rise up and walk through your courageous and truthful presentation of evidences that will finally bring darkness at the back of our human history and bring light to the life of the Filipino people.”
The false graphic card surfaced a few days before the Senate opened the impeachment trial against Duterte on July 6. The vice president faces allegations of misusing millions of pesos in confidential funds, bribery, unexplained wealth, and threatening the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former House speaker Martin Romualdez.
As of writing, the posts published by FB page Makata ng Bayan (created April 13, 2020) and four other users collectively garnered 7,953 reactions; 2,255 comments; and 912 shares.
