Quote card falsely claims Moreno called senators ‘criminals’
A quote card circulating on social media since at least August falsely attributes to Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso a statement calling senators “criminals” and accusing them of teaming up to acquit themselves of legal charges.
His office said he never made the statement.
One of the earlier versions FactRakers found was posted in an Aug. 21 Facebook reel by Mr. Win Luzero Vizarra and received about 1,900 reactions, 135 comments and 184 shares. It was later shared on Sept. 23 in the Facebook group Sara Duterte Supporters, which has about 599,700 members.
The quote card reads:
Sa totoo lang nakakahiya nangyayare sa senado, lahat ng kriminal nagkampi-kampi para i-abswelto yung sarili. Huling baraha nila yung tumatakbong presidente ang mag abswelto sa kanila. Wag kami lokohin niyo lelang niyong panot (It’s honestly embarrassing what’s happening in the Senate, all the criminals are teaming up to acquit themselves. Their last card is for the running president to acquit them)
The caption portrayed the statement as Moreno's attack on senators allied with Vice President Sara Duterte, claiming they had teamed up to support a presidential candidate who could clear them of legal charges.
Manila Public Information Officer Julius Leonen said in a text message the quote card is “fake.”
A reverse image search traced Moreno’s photo in the card to his 2013 reelection campaign for Manila vice mayor.
The fabricated remark was made as Duterte is undergoing an impeachment trial and several senators are facing legal charges. Among them are senators Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada, both detained on plunder charges, while Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa remains in hiding after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him.
The quote card has been reposted in other Facebook groups, Threads and TikTok. A Sept. 18 post in the Ping Lacson Movement Facebook group, which has about 35,500 members, drew 598 reactions, 118 comments and 438 shares, while @raybaclayo’s post on Sept. 20 on Threads had about 1,900 likes, 284 comments, and 40 shares. (AP)
