Netizens are circulating a quote supposedly from Vice President Sara Duterte explaining why she attended a local politician’s wedding as Severe Tropical Storm Kristine ravaged the Bicol region. This is fake.
First uploaded on Facebook (FB) on Oct. 27, the fabricated quote card carried the logo of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) News.
The vice president was quoted on “Oct. 25” as saying:
“Why did I prioritize the wedding of Mayor Rama instead of going to the Bicol region? Simple lang (It’s simple), he is a very close friend and a political ally of our family. I am one of the principal sponsors, it will be rude if I will not attend his wedding despite the fact that I am listed as one of his principal sponsors. Besides, hindi naman ako welcome sa Bicol. Last time na pumunta ako sa Naga City, hindi man ako pinansin ng mga tao doon. Even the local officials kahit man sana yung mga barangay officials, walang effort na ginawa para irespeto man lang ako. Besides di ko naman kilala mga tao doon.
(I am not welcome in Bicol. The last time that I went to Naga City, the people did not approach me. Even the local and barangay officials, they did not make any effort to show me respect. Besides, I don’t know the people there.)”
VERA Files Fact Check has reached out to the Office of the Vice President for comment, but has received no response as of publishing.
While Duterte did attend the wedding of dismissed Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama on Oct. 24, there have been no news reports about nor official statements from her making this remark.
Meanwhile, SMNI has disowned the circulating graphic.
In an Oct. 27 FB post, SMNI called the quote card “fake.”
“A fake SMNI quote card has been circulating online. We advise the public to be vigilant at all times,” their statement read.
The bogus graphic making the rounds online appears to have manipulated a Feb. 27 SMNI quote card. Duterte’s original statement was about the anniversary of the EDSA Revolution.
(Note: Click on the image to view the original source.)
The fabricated quote card circulated three days after Rama’s wedding at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. The same day, Kristine made landfall. Duterte drew flak from netizens for seemingly prioritizing the wedding instead of helping in relief and rescue efforts for typhoon victims.
VERA Files Fact Check has flagged at least eight different publishers who posted the fake graphic, collectively garnering over 327 interactions. This is not the first time that fake quote cards attributed to the vice president were shared online.
Author: VERA Files
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