FACT CHECK: Escudero did not say prosecution 'fabricated' allegations vs VP Sara

A false claim is circulating on social media in the Philippines, alleging that the evidence presented in the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte was fabricated by the prosecution. This misinformation stems from a manipulated video clip of Senator Francis Escudero, presiding officer of the impeachment court, taken out of context. The claim was posted on the Facebook page Makata Ng Bayan, which has over one million followers. The video features text overlaying the clip that reads, “All of this was made up by the government prosecution. It’s all over. The Office of the Vice President has won.” The video shows Escudero saying, “Quote, ‘These bank records, bank records don’t lie. This can no longer be spun — to say that the government prosecution simply fabricated these issues regarding the Vice President’s unexplained wealth.’” However, the clip is an excerpt from Escudero’s ruling on August 26, where he stated that the impeachment court would strictly enforce the sub judice rule, which prohibits senator-judges, prosecutors, witnesses, the defense, and the respondent from making any public comments and disclosures about the merits of a pending trial. The quote cited in the video was part of his remarks while citing several statements that allegedly violated the Senate impeachment rules, not his conclusion that the prosecution fabricated the allegations against Duterte. The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is ongoing, having concluded its ninth week. During the trial, former Department of Education spokesperson and chief of staff Michael Wesley Poa testified that he drafted a response to the 2024 Commission on Audit (COA) findings on the education department’s use of confidential funds. However, he stated he was unaware that the funds were transferred to Duterte’s security officer. He also testified that the funds were used to gather information to intervene against violent extremism and recruitment. Duterte is the first and only public official to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives. She is accused of alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of Department of Education officials, and grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family. Source: Rappler Philippines