A video uploaded on Facebook (FB) claimed that Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel has been removed from his position. It is not true.
On Oct. 22, the three-minute video emerged with the caption: “Raoul Manuel Tanggal na? Supalpal kay Atty Roque at Sen Bato. Tanggal ang sungay (Raoul Manuel removed? Slapped by Atty. [Harry] Roque, Sen. Bato [Ronaldo Dela Rosa], dehorned)”
In the video’s caption, a text read: “CONFIRMED, TIGOK NA (fired)”
There was no evidence in the footage supporting the claim. The video and its narrator only showed opinions of netizens calling for the resignation of Manuel and updates on the recent case of slain broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.
Neither was there any House resolution – passed or pending – nor any legitimate news reports about the alleged removal of Manuel from office.
According to Article VI, Sec. 16 of the 1987 Constitution, only Congress has the power to “suspend or expel” its members. A two-thirds majority vote from the chamber where the erring lawmaker belongs is needed to concur with the decision.
Manuel has been a target of disinformation in the past few weeks. (Read VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel NOT jailed and VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Teddy Casiño, Renato Reyes NOT arrested by police)
The video appeared weeks after Manuel condemned on Oct. 4 the killing of Mabasa under the current administration, stating President Ferdinand Marcos is no different from his father “who kills journalists and critical Filipinos.”
FB page Lindon TV (created on Oct. 28, 2020) published the video, garnering over 4,700 reactions, 1,900 comments, 480 shares and 395,000 views.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
