Archive - FACT CHECK

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he would never be “foolish” enough to commit errors on his narco-lists. The next day, he apologized to public officials he wrongly linked to illegal drugs — the mistake done either through “negligence” or in bad faith. STATEMENT: On Sept. 26, the president said care should be exercised when

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is no fan of the United Nations, calling its leader a fool and its experts stupid. During his speech before the Malacañang Press Corps on Sept. 26, Duterte once again slammed the UN for interfering in his drug war. He said the international agency had investigated him on the alleged extrajudicial killings in

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte in August said the government does not provide lawyers to police who need legal assistance. He was referring to police officers who run into trouble with the law while conducting legitimate operation. STATEMENT: “Now remember, in this country, no lawyer is provided for the policeman and the other men…the security officers when

A NATIONWIDE survey released recently by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) has found that President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that methamphetamine or “shabu” use being confined to the poor has no statistical basis. STATEMENT: Amid criticisms that only the poor are targeted by the government’s anti-drug war, Duterte told reporters on Aug. 24 during a press conference

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte never issued a “shoot-to-kill” order against drug suspects, according to the Philippines’ permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) on Sept 14. In a statement issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Cecilia Rebong, during the 33rd Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, said what the president meant was the police have

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sept. 10 told the media to go ahead and criticize him and his government’s shortcomings, saying it is their sworn duty. Not so long ago, he dared reporters to kill and stop journalism in this country. STATEMENT: Straight from the recently concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Vientiane,

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sept. 10 told the media to go ahead and criticize him and his government’s shortcomings, saying it is their sworn duty. Not so long ago, he dared reporters to kill and stop journalism in this country.

AWARE of the possible repercussions his war on drugs might cause him, President Rodrigo Duterte uses the Revised Penal Code as his battle armor. In particular, he has cited his age — he’s 71 — as one ground for his release should he be arrested. “Wala akong pakialam diyan sa ano. Sabi ko [pauses) I have a

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte invoked presidential immunity when he threatened to kill criminals and drug addicts during his Aug. 5 speech before troops in Capiz. “’Pag ayaw magpa-areglo ng kaso, patayin. Parang lahat na. Salvage dito, salvage doon. Because when I became mayor, I said, “If you’re a criminal, if you’re a drug addict, if you

  PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte again raked up the past against Sen. Leila de Lima in his Aug. 21 midnight press conference. He said: “De Lima, whenever she faces the microphone and TV cameras, she changes the aura, nag-iiba yung anyo. She becomes combative and she said, ‘Duterte should be punished for… Duterte should be sued

TWELVE government and police officials from Iloilo made it to the list of the Philippine National Police’s narco-politicians. Is President Rodrigo Duterte correct in tagging Iloilo, either province or city, as the most “shabulized” in the Philippines? The list, which included the names of 158 public officials nationwide, was announced on August 7 during Duterte’s

IN his first privilege speech as a senator, Manny Pacquiao pushed for the reinstatement of the death penalty for heinous crimes, such as drug trafficking. August 8, 2016 – Senate Session No. 6 “Ang lahat po ay may karapatang mabuhay. Pero bilang mambabatas, may obligasyon rin po tayo sa ating mga mamamayan na mabigyan sila

PRESIDENT Duterte has mentioned time and again that he wants the Constitution changed. But he has flip-flopped on how he wants it done. A year ago, he favored Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) over Constitutional Assembly (Con-Ass) to revise the Constitution. His reasons for the change of heart? A softening toward members of Congress whom he says

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s milestone executive order on freedom of information retains Macapagal and Marcosian relics. The repealing clause of Executive Order No. 2 issued July 23 poses a few noteworthy exceptions. “SECTION 18. Repealing Clause. All orders, rules and regulations, issuances or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby

TO PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, they’re thugs to be stamped out. Or so he sometimes says. “There is no redeeming factor or reason for me to sit down and talk with criminals. Pareho lang rin ‘yan sa droga.” Duterte described the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) this way, during the mass oath- taking of his appointees in Malacanang,

TEN years since the Philippine legislature abolished death penalty in the country, the 17th Congress made capital punishment a buzzword once again, by filing House Bill 01 which seeks to bring it back from, er, the dead. STATEMENT: In his acceptance speech after being elected Speaker of the House on July 25, Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez made it

STATEMENT: In his first state of the nation address Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte, digressing from a prepared speech, talked about the peace process in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). Duterte said: “Iyong BBL, ibigay na natin, minus the things that you do not want. Iyong mga constitutional issues. Tanggalin muna natin. Ibigay ko yung area .Nandiyan

BY SENDING drug dependents to military camps, President Rodrigo Duterte may have ticked off yet another box on the list of policies that push the country backwards. STATEMENT: In his first State of the Nation Address, Duterte ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to get military camps and facilities ready for drug rehabilitation. He said:

STATEMENT: In his inaugural address on June 30, President Rodrigo Duterte claimed an “erosion” of trust in government is the real problem confronting the Philippines. “Erosion of faith and trust in government—that is the real problem that confronts us. Resulting therefrom, I see the erosion of the people’s trust in our country’s leaders; the erosion

STATEMENT: Independent senatorial candidate Greco Belgica was asked in a television interview on March 15 what his first bill would be if he won a seat in the Senate. He said he would push for a flat tax system on personal income. “Flat rate, meaning if you make P1 million, you pay P100,000. If you

STATEMENT:  Former energy secretary and Liberal Party senatorial bet Jericho Petilla said in an April 6 television interview he was “branded the father of renewable energy.” “Before I came in as secretary, wala kang maririnig na renewable (you would not hear of renewable energy),” he said. Discussing the prospects for a “good mix” of coal and

STATEMENT: During the CNN vice presidential debate on April 10, candidates were asked about their plans to ensure that the rapid economic growth of the Philippines continues. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano responded by bringing up the issues of criminality, illegal drugs and poverty, which he said are all worsening. Cayetano said: “Ang ekonomiya po ay

STATEMENT: During the CNN vice presidential debate Sunday, candidate Bongbong Marcos, asked about his opposition to the passage of the “sin tax” law, said the measure has nothing to offer those from the affected industries. Marcos said: “Sa pagpataas ng ‘sin tax’ ay mababawasan ang ating makikita na produksyon, na wala namang kapalit para doon

By JAKE SORIANO DURING the CNN-sponsored vice presidential debate Sunday, five of the six candidates talked about their proposed plans to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao. No one mentioned how they and their running mates intend to implement the peace agreements already signed by the Philippine government. Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. proposed to “continue” the peace