FACT CHECK: ‘Duterte!’ chants fabricated in video of Marcos at Palarong Pambansa 2024 

Claim: “Duterte!” chants were heard as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. passed by to greet a crowd gathered for an event.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook post bearing the claim has garnered 1.1 million views, 24,000 reactions, 5,600 shares, and 39 comments as of writing. The account that posted the claim has 24,000 followers. 

The video shows Marcos waving to and interacting with a crowd of people, while the chanting of Duterte’s name is heard. The text on the video reads: “Nako po! Pahiya ibang name yung sinisigaw!” (Yikes! What an embarrassment, another name is being chanted!)

The facts: The “Duterte!” chants were added to a July 9, 2024 video by GMA Regional TV News, which does not contain any such audio.

According to the original video’s caption, the video depicts Marcos arriving at the Cebu City Sports Center for the 2024 Palarong Pambansa opening ceremony. Only the sounds of the host speaking and the “Bagong Pilipinas” hymn can be heard in the original video.

Vice President Sara Duterte did not attend the event despite being in Cebu City as it was ongoing. At the time, Duterte had recently resigned from the Marcos Cabinet amid growing tensions between the Marcos and Duterte camps.

Duterte’s resignation as Marcos’ education secretary was the final nail in the coffin for the former Uniteam allies, whose relationship has only been on a downward spiral since. (READ: A tough 2024 for Sara Duterte)

Fabricated Duterte chants: This is not the first time fabricated audio has been added to unrelated videos. Rappler previously debunked claims that “Duterte”’ chants were supposedly heard during Pope Francis’ East Timor visit and a fitness event in Dubai. 

Similar claims using other videos have been fact-checked by news organizations AFP Philippines, PressOne, and FactRakers.

Previous fact-checks: False posts about the Dutertes have been circulating on social media amid the ongoing controversies surrounding the Vice President, who faces several impeachment complaints over alleged misuse of public funds and criticism over her tirades against Marcos.

Rappler has debunked other false claims about the Dutertes:

• FACT CHECK: NBI still investigating Sara Duterte’s alleged death threat vs Marcos
• FACT CHECK: Black Hawk choppers delivered to PH Air Force, not Davao
• FACT CHECK: No statement from Putin backing calls for Mindanao secession
• FACT CHECK: COA flagged issues in OVP programs, spending
• FACT CHECK: Sara Duterte not cleared over alleged confidential funds misuse     

– Shay Du/Rappler.com

Shay Du 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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