A YouTube video claims that private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia, assisting the House prosecution panel in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, was disbarred for violating impeachment rules. This is false.
Posted on Aug. 26, the video only played the Aug. 25 impeachment trial of the vice president, which does not support the headline and thumbnail. The content creator attached his reaction video during Divinagracia’s witness interrogation and used the clickbait headline that read:
“Tanggal license? Bilis karma! Labag impeachment rules! (License removed? Instant karma! Violated impeachment rules).”
It also carried the following text as its thumbnail:
“ARAY KO! BILIS KARMA? ATTY DIVINAGRACIA NASAMPULAN SENADO? ATTY FERER CHIZ NAG-WARNING? (OUCH! INSTANT KARMA? ATTY DIVINAGRACIA DISCIPLINED IN SENATE? ATTY FERRER CHIZ WARNED?).”
No official records substantiate the claim that Divinagracia’s license to practice as a lawyer was revoked for violating impeachment rules. The private prosecutor remains part of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
The Supreme Court, which has the power to remove or suspend a member of the bar from the roll of attorneys, has not initiated any disbarment case against Divinagracia.
The impeachment court reminded the House prosecution panel to avoid using terms such as “scam” and “mastermind” during witness examination in connection with Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds.
The warning from Senate impeachment court presiding officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero came after Divinagracia used loaded terms while interrogating Office of the Vice President assistant secretary and chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio on Aug. 25.
The posting of the erroneous claim coincided with the 18th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, when Divinagracia made her first appearance and directly examined hostile witness Ortonio.
Posted by YouTube channel Banat Kabayan TV (created Nov. 6, 2021) with over 100,000 subscribers, the video has so far garnered 11,000 views, 237 reactions, and 27 comments.
