Edited clip shared in posts discrediting news coverage of protests calling for Duterte's impeachment

"ABIAS-CBN is exposed for spreading wrong information??" read a Facebook video's Tagalog-language caption disparaging Philippine media giant ABS-CBN.

The video, shared on February 1, 2025, shows clips from the ABS-CBN news programme TV Patrol, with anchor Zen Hernandez saying in Tagalog: "Thousands flocked to various protests in different parts of Metro Manila today to call for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte and raise other issues."

The clip then cuts to journalist Vivienne Gulla doing a live report in which she says: "Almost 500 went to the mobilisation here at EDSA Shrine to call on Congress to take action on the several impeachment complaints filed against Sara Duterte."

ABS-CBN previously ran afoul of Duterte's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who warned of karmic repercussions for the broadcaster's critical coverage of his deadly drug war (archived link).

The broadcaster was forced off air over a stalled operating licence renewal during his term in office, drawing fresh charges that authorities were cracking down on press freedom (archived link).

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Screenshot of the altered video on Facebook, taken on February 6, 2025

The video circulated after protests in Manila urging the Philippine House of Representatives to impeach Vice President Duterte before they adjourned ahead of May's midterm elections (archived link). 

Duterte was impeached by lawmakers on February 5 -- the vote following the filing of a trio of complaints in December accusing her of crimes ranging from the "brazen misuse" of millions of dollars in public funds to plotting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos's assassination (archived link).

The 46-year-old vice president, who is estranged from Marcos but remains his constitutional successor in case he is unable to perform his duties, has denied the allegations.

Her fate now lies in the hands of the Philippines' 24 senators, two-thirds of whom must vote for her impeachment to remove her from office and disqualify her from future public positions. A trial date has yet to be set.

Similar claims that ABS-CBN exaggerated the size of protests calling for Duterte's impeachment were also shared on TikTok.

"Thousands? And then it turns out to be only 500?" read a comment on one of the posts. Another said: "Maybe the first reporter was paid higher because they said thousands. But the second reporter just said the protesters were only 500. Fix your news."

The video, however, omits parts of the journalist's report where she discussed larger rallies held on the same day.

Edited report

A reverse image search on Google using keyframes from the altered video led to the full news segment published on the official Facebook page of TV Patrol on January 31 (archived link).

The Tagalog-language title of the news report read, "Thousands protested to call for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte".

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Screenshot comparison of the altered video (left) and the full TV Patrol report (right)

Portions of the original clip -- from the 14-second mark to the 29-second mark -- were omitted in the version circulating on social media to make it appear as if the anchor's figures were contradicted by the reporter.

In her complete report, the journalist says: "Almost 500 went to the mobilisation here at EDSA Shrine to call on Congress to take action on the several impeachment complaints filed against Sara Duterte and to oppose the 2025 national budget.

"But aside from this, there were two other rallies, one at Liwasang Bonifacio and the other at the EDSA People Power Monument."

She says organisers estimated around 10,000 protesters went to the rally at the EDSA People Power Monument, and around 3,000 people took part in the rally at Liwasang Bonifacio.

The crowd figures cited are consistent with those reported by AFP and The Philippine Star (archived link).

AFP has debunked other misinformation related to Duterte's impeachment.