As the Philippines gears up for mid-term elections that could determine the political future of impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, footage purportedly showing a massive gathering of her supporters surfaced online. But the clip shows attendees at a Spanish music festival dubbed with audio from a campaign rally for the vice president’s father Rodrigo Duterte in 2016.
The video, showing a massive crowd that appears to be chanting “Duterte, Duterte”, was viewed nearly half a million times after it was shared on Facebook on February 17, 2025.
Its caption is six green hearts — the colour Sara Duterte used in her vice presidential campaign in 2022.
The formidable alliance of Duterte and Ferdinand Marcos — the scions of two of the country’s most powerful political families — swept to power in the 2022 elections but has imploded spectacularly.
The battle between the political dynasties is at the heart of mid-term elections that could determine the political future of Duterte, who was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5 (archived link).
An impeachment trial, on charges that could see her barred from office, will be held in the Senate where a dozen open seats are up for grabs in the May vote.
The video also circulated on TikTok, with comments on the posts suggesting users believed it showed a rally of pro-Duterte supporters while urging others to support Duterte’s allies in the upcoming mid-term elections.
“Big yes!” read part of one comment. “Vote straight Duterte team line up.”
Another comment, referring to Duterte’s political party, read, “Vote straight for PDP” (archived link).
The video circulating online, however, has been manipulated.
Read the full story on AFP Fact Check.