Labor Day protest misrepresented as pro-Duterte march

A video of a May 1 Labor Day protest in Manila was falsely reposted on Facebook as footage of a supposed pro-Duterte rally.

The video posted on May 9 by the account 쿠야삼 carried the caption “NAG MARTSA NA (“They have started marching”).” It used an “Inday Sara” campaign-style song as background music and overlaid images of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Rodante Marcoleta, creating the impression that the march was a Duterte-related political mobilization. 

The post falsely implied that supporters of Vice President Duterte had begun a mass mobilization or street protest. 

However, details visible in the video show that the gathering was a Labor Day rally organized by labor groups advocating for wage increases and workers’ rights.

Signs and banners visible in the footage show labor groups, including the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the Associated Labors Union (ALU). Protesters also carried a large banner calling for a P200 wage increase and tax relief for the middle class:

P200 DAGDAG SAHOD IBATAS, MIDDLE CLASS WAG I-TAX (Pass the p200 additional salary law, do not tax the middle class)

The same slogans and organizations visible in the video also appear in photos posted by TUCP and ALU from their May 1, 2026 Labor Day activities. No visible signage in the footage linked the march to the Duterte family or any organized Duterte political event.

Searches found no reports, official announcements or verified posts identifying the gathering as a pro-Duterte rally. 

The location also matches España Boulevard in Manila. The video appears to have been taken from the Morayta Footbridge based on the road layout and surrounding structures that match Google Maps Street View imagery captured in February 2025.

The misleading post has garnered more than 18,000 likes, 1,100 comments and 2,800 shares as of writing. (AGS)