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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
A video exaggerates statements by retired SC justice Antonio Carpio and falsely claims that Vice President Sara Duterte had already secured a major victory in her impeachment case
Claim: Retired Supreme Court (SC) senior associate justice Antonio Carpio has testified and confirmed the dismissal of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in a video circulating on TikTok posted by user @selena_user_rider on February 23. As of writing, it already has 179,200 views, 10,500 reactions, 842 comments, and 1,269 shares.
The video is captioned “Malaking panalo to! Kumanta na SC JUDGE may binunyag kay VP Sara?” (This is a huge win! SC judge has ‘sung’ and revealed something to VP Sara?)
The video’s narrator says, “Kinumpirma na mismo at tahasang sinabi ng dating associate justice ng Korte Suprema na si Antonio Carpio na talagang mapapawalang-bisa ang ikinasang impeachment case laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte at magiging back to zero na umano ito sa Kamara pagbalik ng June at kakalap muli sila ng panibagong signature campaign.”
(Former Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio has confirmed and bluntly stated that the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte will indeed be dismissed and that the case will reset back to zero come June, and they will once again start a new signature campaign.)
The TikTok profile behind the misleading video, which has amassed over 43,000 followers and 733,200 likes, consistently publishes false and pro-Duterte content masquerading as political news.
Meanwhile, on Facebook, the same video was reposted by a user named Nlyram Hilario Birao, an active member of the Facebook community Philippine Federal Movement International, a group sharing pro-Duterte content online. As of writing, Birao’s repost has already gathered 67,000 views, over 1,500 reactions, 135 comments, and 772 shares.
The facts: The video’s caption and narration falsely claim that Carpio has testified and confirmed the dismissal of Duterte’s impeachment case. Carpio did not make such a statement.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, and the Senate is now tasked to proceed with the trial by convening itself into an impeachment court. The timing of the impeachment proceedings, however, has raised legal questions on whether the trial can be held during the Senate’s session break, or whether the next batch of senators in the 20th Congress can tackle the articles of impeachment submitted to the 19th Congress. (READ: Frequently asked questions on VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial)
In an ANC interview, Carpio was asked to comment on how the Senate’s recess would impact Duterte’s impeachment. He said that a trial could not proceed if the Senate is not able to convene as an impeachment court; however, he noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can call for a special session for the Senate to amend the 2025 budget, then proceed with the constitution of an impeachment court.
The misleading TikTok video exaggerated Carpio’s statements to falsely claim that the nullification of Duterte’s impeachment has been confirmed due to these legal issues.
Other law experts, like former Supreme Court spokesperson Ted Te, believe that even if the 19th Congress runs out of time to convict Duterte before its term expires in June, the members of the 20th Congress can continue the preparations and the trial if the impeachment court is constituted while the 19th Congress is in session.
Rappler’s previous fact-checks have also debunked other misleading information about Duterte’s impeachment case. (READ: FACT CHECK: SC did not nullify Sara Duterte’s impeachment)
Dubious sources: The TikTok post relies on dubious sources, including a supposed Facebook post by prominent Duterte supporter Krizette Laureta Chu. However, no such post or account can be found as of writing because Meta suspended Chu’s Facebook account on February 6 for “community standards” violations.
Rappler has previously fact-checked various claims by Chu, including her assertion that there were “zero” journalists harassed or sued by the government under the Duterte administration. Similarly, Vera Files has also flagged false posts by Chu. – Rappler.com
Reinnard Balonzo is a senior journalism student at Bicol University-College of Arts and Letters. An Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow graduate of Rappler for 2024, he is also chairperson of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Bicol.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
