Happy Sunday, FactsFirstPH! Another day, another fact check! @here The post says Ephraim Escudero was not a victim of extrajudicial killings but of 'riding-in-tandem' hitmen; human rights groups, however, say this is a 'common killing tactic' during Duterte's drug war https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/missing-context-post-ephraim-escudero-riding-in-tandem/

FACT CHECK: Post describing Ephraim Escudero as a victim of ‘riding in tandem’ lacks context
The post says Ephraim Escudero was not a victim of extrajudicial killings but of 'riding-in-tandem' hitmen; human rights groups, however, say this is a 'common killing tactic' during Duterte's drug war

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/missing-context-post-ephraim-escudero-riding-in-tandem/

FACT CHECK: Baste Duterte did not ask China to evacuate OFWs in the Middle East
The photo is taken out of context; it shows Duterte welcoming Ambassador Jing Quan during a routine visit, not related to OFW repatriation

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/baste-duterte-did-not-ask-china-evacuate-ofw-middle-east/

FACT CHECK: Lacson still a senator, not expelled
Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson continues to serve his six-year term, currently chairing the Senate blue ribbon committee

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/fact-check-lacson-still-senator-not-expelled/

FACT CHECK: Current forecasts for oil price surge do not reach P200 per liter
While fuel prices are expected to increase due to compounded disruptions in oil shipments affecting the global economy caused by the recent conflict in the Middle East, recent projections do not estimate that it’ll reach up to ₱200 per liter

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/oil-price-surge-forecasts-200-per-liter-march-2026/

FACT CHECK: Bato dela Rosa not removed from Senate
Senator Bato dela Rosa is still currently a senator, although he has been absent from the Senate since November 11, 2025

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/fact-check-bato-dela-rosa-not-removed-from-senate/

FACT CHECK: ICC’s rejection of Duterte’s appeal for interim release misrepresented as reclusion perpetua sentence
The news reports cited in the video only state that the International Criminal Court affirmed the earlier decision of Pre-Trial Chamber 1 to reject Duterte’s appeal for interim release

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/icc-reject-rodrigo-duterte-appeal-interim-release-misrepresented-reclusion-perpetua-sentence/

FACT CHECK: Robredo did not rebuke VP Duterte’s claims about OFW repatriation
Robredo’s team confirm to Rappler that the Naga City mayor has not issued any statement regarding Duterte’s remarks on Middle East OFW repatriation

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/leni-robredo-not-rebuke-vp-duterte-claims-ofw-repatriation/

FACT CHECK: Duterte still detained in the ICC detention center
The International Criminal Court is an independent international organization and is not part of the United Nations system where Japanese researcher Fujiki Shunichi called for Duterte’s interim release

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/rodrigo-duterte-still-detained-icc-detention-center/

FACT CHECK: Remulla denies statement urging the public to ‘move on’ from flood control controversies
'Nothing will stop this admin from pursuing the flood control conspirators,' Remulla tells Rappler, clarifying that he never issued a statement urging the public to move on from the flood control controversies

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/jonvic-remulla-denies-statement-move-on-flood-control-controversies/

FACT CHECK: Quote card of Hontiveros saying she will file ICC case vs Israel, Trump is fake
While the senator has spoken about the ongoing Middle East conflict, she has made no mention of any plans to file a case against Israel and Donald Trump with the ICC over human rights violations

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/fake-quote-card-risa-hontiveros-file-icc-case-vs-israel-donald-trump/

FACT CHECK: Gerville Luistro not removed from House
Three days after the claim was posted, DZMM Teleradyo interviews Luistro, where she is introduced as Batangas 2nd District representative

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/gerville-luistro-not-removed-from-house/

FACT CHECK: Baste Duterte did not send chartered planes for Middle East OFWs’ repatriation
Philippine Airlines has been involved in repatriation efforts, but these are typically coordinated with government authorities and not attributed to a single individual

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/baste-duterte-did-not-send-chartered-plane-middle-east-ofw-repatriation/

FACT CHECK: Viral post on Brunei oil shipment to Davao City is fake
‘We have no information regarding the alleged oil supply from Brunei arriving in Davao City. The city government has not held any discussions with Brunei on this matter,’ says Davao City Information Office Head Harvey Lanticse

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/brunei-oil-shipment-davao-city-duterte/

[Tabas ng Dila] Ang pagsagip sa mga Placido Penitente
Kung ang science ay mananatiling malamig at malayo, parang iniwan na rin natin ang bayan sa mga kamay ng mga trolls na ang tanging layunin ay maghasik ng kamangmangan

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https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/tabas-ng-dila-science-communication-save-students-from-ignorance-disinformation/

FACT CHECK: No announcement of energy lockdown; video is AI-generated
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro says the government is preparing to avoid worst-case scenarios if tensions persist in the Middle East, adding that no energy lockdown is expected at the moment

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/no-announcement-energy-lockdown-video-ai-generated/

FACT CHECK: Duterte was served food in flight to The Hague after his arrest, contrary to claim
Duterte was served a rice meal while on the flight, as can be seen in a video from Senator Bong Go’s Facebook account, which was shared by various media outlets

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/rodrigo-duterte-served-food-in-hague-arrest-flight/

[OPINION] The West Philippine Sea is also a digital battlefield
The nature of the conflict has already changed. Data, narratives, and perception shape it.

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https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-west-philippine-sea-digital-battlefield/

FACT CHECK: Hontiveros did not seek Alex Eala endorsement for LGBT advocacy
'Stop the lies,' Senator Risa Hontiveros says following viral claims that she supposedly sought an endorsement from tennis star Alex Eala

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/risa-hontiveros-debunks-viral-alex-eala-endorsement-post/

FACT CHECK: Duterte not missing from ICC detention
Former president Rodrigo Duterte remains at the ICC detention center in The Hague, Netherlands, where he has been held since March 2025

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/rodrigo-duterte-not-missing-icc-detention/

FACT CHECK: Marcoleta not back as Senate blue ribbon chair
Marcoleta previously held the chairmanship of the powerful committee, but has been replaced by Senator Ping Lacson, who continues to hold the position

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/rodante-marcoleta-not-back-senate-blue-ribbon-chair/

FACT CHECK: Arroyo not the new House speaker, did not junk impeachment raps vs VP Sara
The impeachment complaints against Duterte have not been dismissed; in fact, the House justice committee began its hearing on March 25

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/gloria-arroyo-not-new-house-speaker-junk-sara-duterte-impeachment/

Fact-checkers had tighter budgets, but reached more people in 2025 — report
'Those numbers show that there is still a hunger and an interest in fact checks,' says Glenn Kessler, former editor of The Washington Post’s Fact Checker

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https://www.rappler.com/world/global-affairs/state-fact-checkers-report-2025-ifcn/

FACT CHECK: Photo of De Lima sweeping litter at Rizal Park is AI-generated
The photos of De Lima, who had endorsed an impeachment petition against Vice President Sara Duterte, circulated amid the House's hearing on Duterte's case

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/leila-de-lima-sweeping-litter-rizal-park-ai-generated/

FACT CHECK: No UN plan to ‘rescue’ Duterte from ICC custody
Shunichi Fujiki, the person cited in the post, did not say that the UN is willing to rescue Duterte, nor is he the official spokesperson of the international organization, contrary to what the post implies

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/no-un-rescue-plan-rodrigo-duterte-icc-custody/

FACT CHECK: Old SC ruling misrepresented as latest decision on VP Sara impeachment
In January 2026, the Supreme Court affirmed its 2025 decision barring impeachment proceedings against Duterte. This ruling is not about the ongoing impeachment drive against the Vice President, contrary to the claim.

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/old-supreme-court-ruling-misrepresented-latest-decision-sara-duterte-impeachment/

FACT CHECK: ‘Sara Sky’ tanker carrying Russian oil to PH not linked to Dutertes
The video highlights a news report headline and the name of the oil tanker to falsely imply that the Dutertes were behind the delivery of Russian oil to the Philippines

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/sara-sky-tanker-carry-russian-oil-philippines-not-linked-dutertes/

FACT CHECK: No motion filed by Japan, US for Duterte ICC release
The video offers no evidence for its claim. Duterte remains detained at the ICC, awaiting a decision on whether his case will move to trial.

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/motion-japan-us-rodrigo-duterte-icc-release/

FACT CHECK: Malacañang, DOE debunk ‘energy lockdown’ claims
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro says the ‘energy lockdown’ claim is 'fake news.' Malcañang earlier said no energy lockdown is expected at the moment.

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/malacanang-doe-debunk-energy-lockdown-claims/