VERA Files
A YouTube video’s headline and thumbnail erroneously claim that President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the appointment of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte as his administration’s anti-drug czar. Not true.
Uploaded on June 4, the 10-minute and 45-second video’s headline read:
“JUST NOW : BAGONG UTOS! SAWAKAS SANIB-PWERSA NA PRES MARCOS at EX-PDUTERTE KAMAY NA BAKAL BABALIK NA (NEW ORDER! FINALLY PRES MARCOS AND EX-PDUTERTE TO JOIN FORCES IRON HAND RETURNS).”
Its thumbnail featured Duterte made to look like he was showing a document juxtaposed with an image of Marcos. In the middle is a photo collage of policemen taken from a YouTube video of a Senate hearing.
The thumbnail carried the text:
“DU30 BALIK PALASYO. ITO NA ANG PINAKA-ABANGAN NG LAHAT. UBUSIN ANG DRUG LORD (DU30 BACK IN THE PALACE. THIS IS THE MOST ANTICIPATED BY EVERYONE. FINISH THE DRUG LORD).”
Marcos has not appointed Duterte as his administration’s anti-drug czar or to any position.
On May 23, Sen. Bong Go raised the idea of Duterte working as the anti-drug czar.
He broached this during the Senate hearing on the alleged involvement of high-ranking Philippine National Police (PNP) officials and officers in the P6.7 billion shabu haul in October 2022. The senator asked PNP chief Benjamin Acorda Jr. if giving Duterte the position would help the campaign. Acorda answered that he will “be supportive” of anything that would help the fight against illegal drugs.
Sen. Bato Dela Rosa, in an interview, then expressed support for Go’s suggestion, saying that it would “bring back fear” among drug syndicates and police involved in illegal drugs.
In a May 31 interview, Duterte rejected the calls. He said Marcos as the chief executive should be given leeway to do his job.
“It is not right because there is a President duly elected and it is his duty to enforce the law and solve crimes,” the former president said.
The video itself failed to support the claim. It only mentioned Marcos’ 2022 statement about being open to appointing Duterte as the anti-drug czar.
While a narrator clarified that “no legal talks were held” on such an appointment, several netizens still fell for the clickbait headline and thumbnail. The narrator only talked about Go’s idea and read netizens’ comments supporting the appointment. Towards the end of the video, it played a 2018 clip of Duterte reprimanding erring cops in Malacañang.
The false video was posted five days after the Senate Committee on public order and dangerous drugs concluded its investigation on the shabu haul controversy.
YouTube channel PINAS NEWS INSIDER’s (created on Dec. 26, 2015) video has 143,482 views as of writing. Netizens also shared the link on Facebook.
Have you seen any dubious claims, photos, memes, or online posts that you want us to verify? Fill out this reader request form or send it to VERA, the truth bot on Viber.
(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
