A TikTok video has passed off clips of the June 2 Philippine Independence Day Parade in New York City as a recent rally purportedly held there by Vice President Sara Duterte’s supporters.
TikTok user Calvin Sebusa Galleto (@bintoot) uploaded the misleading video on Nov. 30 accompanied by the caption:
Ilang taga-supporta ni sarah duterte sa ilang lugar sa NEWYORK (A number of Sara Duterte supporters in different parts of New York)
The video also contained the following text:
SARAH DUTERTE SUPPORTERS IN NEW YORK
MAGKAISA PARA SA BAYAN (Let us unite for the country)
Some netizens, deceived by the post, thanked overseas Filipino workers for supporting the vice president. Others sided with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying he was still the better leader after Duterte’s recent threat to have him, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez killed.
A Google image reverse search shows that Facebook user Merlyn Cantley, a pro-Duterte New York resident, posted the video on June 3.
The clip features Hakbang ng Maisug (HNM) - USA participating in the Philippine Independence Day Parade on Madison Avenue, from 38th Street to 27th Street, in Manhattan. Its members were clad in green, the known political color of Duterte.
HNM describes itself in its Facebook page as a nongovernmental global organization promoting peaceful protests for good governance in the Philippines.
A forum held before the parade by HNM - USA in Queens, New York about Filipino-American community leaders becoming part of HNM International was participated in by lawyer Vic Rodriguez, HNM Philippines representative and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s former executive secretary, and Rev. Arendo Valera, president of the Sara Duterte Supporters of New York.
Galleto’s post has garnered around 88,900 likes, 8,968 comments, 6,052 saves and 6,285 shares, as of writing. The profile has 7,023 followers and 150,200 accumulated likes.
The misleading TikTok video was also published on Facebook by the accounts Inspire Daily and Ma Loreza Villanil on Nov. 30 and on HNM - USA and Facebook group Protect Vice President Sara Duterte through a post of Wengskie Cordero on Dec. 1.
Duterte faces two impeachment complaints over allegations of misuse of public funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when she headed the agency. (AC)