Clip shows demonstration against plans to phase out jeepneys in Philippines, not anti-Marcos protest

"People have flocked to EDSA, it can no longer be stopped, it's happening," reads Tagalog-language text on a TikTok video shared on November 28, 2024.

Duterte's supporters gathered at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City -- the site of the 1986 People Power Revolution that ousted Marcos's father -- on November 26 to show support to the embattled vice president (archived link). 

The video, which called on Marcos to "resign", was viewed more than 46,000 times and shows scores of protesters waving banners and flags as they march along a street. 

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Screenshot of the false TikTok post, captured on December 5, 2024

Duterte had alleged she was the subject of an assassination plot and said in case it succeeded, she had ordered a member of her security team to kill the president, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Marcos's cousin House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez (archived link).

The alliance between Duterte and Marcos -- her partner in a landslide 2022 presidential election victory -- has collapsed spectacularly in the lead-up to mid-term polls in 2025, with both sides trading allegations of drug addiction.

Duterte's comments at expletive-laden online news conference prompted authorities to launch a probe into the alleged plot, adding to Duterte's growing legal woes as she is also under investigation for her alleged misuse of millions of dollars in funds as education minister.

The same clip was shared in similar posts here and here, with comments on the posts suggesting users believed it showed protesters heading to the EDSA Shrine.

"Go my fellow countrymen! God is with us," read a comment from one user.

Another wrote: "That's right, Marcos should resign."

But the clip is unrelated to demonstrations in support of Duterte.

Jeepney ban protest

A reverse image search on Google led to the same footage posted by SINAG, a student-run publication at the University of the Philippines, on X on December 29, 2023 (archived link).

Its Tagalog-language caption states it shows transport groups protesting along Espana Boulevard in the capital city of Manila against the government's plan to phase out jeepneys.

The plan would see the smoke-belching jeepneys -- which serve as the backbone of the country's transport system providing rides for millions for as little as 13 pesos (22 US cents) -- replaced with safer, less-polluting mini-buses (archived link).

The plan to address the country's chaotic public transport system, however, has faced repeated delays due to protests and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Below is a screenshot comparison between the video in the false post (left) and the clip taken by SINAG (right):

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Screenshot comparison between the video in the false post (left) and the clip taken by SINAG (right)

Manila police estimated over 1,000 protesters -- including jeepney drivers and operators -- had taken part in the march, Philippine broadcaster ABS-CBN reported (archived link).

Johannes Nathan Hong, editor-in-chief of SINAG, told AFP that a reporter for the publication had taken the video.

"This video taken and posted by SINAG has been altered and is being circulated online to fit a different narrative," he said on December 5, 2024.

The footage matches Google Street View imagery of Espana Boulevard, and appears to have been taken from an overpass (archived link).

AFP has debunked other misinformation sparked by the rift between the Duterte and Marcos families here, here and here.