Claim: A video shows Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) members gathering in droves for a rally in support of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The TikTok video bearing the claim has 39,500 views, 3,115 likes, 418 comments, and 160 shares as of writing. It was posted on December 6 by an account with 84,500 followers.
The video shows a large crowd of protesters with superimposed text that reads: “Hindi ako INC pero grabe ang dami nila nakakaproud dahil lahat supporters ni VP Sara Duterte for rally.”
(I’m not an INC member, but I am proud of all the supporters of VP Sara Duterte joining the rally.)
The bottom line: The TikTok video misrepresented the 2016 protest in Seoul against former South Korean president Park Geun-hye as a pro-Duterte rally by INC members.
The images shown in the misleading TikTok video match the photos published by various news outlets reporting on the 2016 demonstrations calling for Park’s resignation over a corruption scandal.
The INC earlier said through its broadcast channel Net 25 that it plans to launch a “peaceful protest” opposing impeachment bids against Duterte. This was in support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “no to impeachment” stance against the Vice President. As of writing, however, there are no reports that the religious group has already mobilized its members for a rally. (READ: Is Iglesia ni Cristo pro-Marcos or pro-Duterte?)
Rappler has previously fact-checked a claim implying that the INC now supports only Duterte. The church endorsed the Marcos-Duterte tandem in the 2022 elections.
Impeachment vs Sara Duterte: The TikTok video was uploaded amid the political controversies surrounding the Vice President.
Duterte is currently facing two impeachment complaints for betrayal of public trust over her alleged misuse of confidential funds and her threats against high-ranking government officials, among other issues. House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said several lawmakers are considering filing a third impeachment complaint. Meanwhile, the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives has initiated a signature drive to fast-track the impeachment proceedings against Duterte.
Taken out of context: This was not the first time a video of another rally was taken out of context and misrepresented as a show of support for the embattled vice president.
Rappler has already published several fact-check articles about supposed pro-Duterte protests:
- FACT CHECK: Videos show 2023 jeepney phaseout protests, not pro-Duterte rally
- FACT CHECK: ‘Duterte!’ chants fabricated in video of fitness event in Dubai
- FACT CHECK: ‘Duterte!’ chants fabricated in video of Pope Francis’ East Timor visit
– Kyle Marcelino/Rappler.com
Kyle Marcelino is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
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