Fake quote criticizing VP Sara's hospital visit debunked

A false claim circulating on social media alleging that Cagayan de Oro Representative Lordan Suan criticized Vice President Sara Duterte's hospital visit has been debunked by Rappler's fact-check. Claim: Cagayan de Oro 1st District Representative Lordan Suan criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for making a hospital visit, saying that doing so should be the job of the President. Rating: FALSE Why we fact-checked this: The claim was posted by Facebook user Dan Cartagena on July 21. As of writing, it has reached more than 2,100 reactions and 400 comments. The post shows photos of Duterte visiting patients at a hospital, alongside a photo of Suan and his supposed quote: “Wala akong problema sa pagtulong mo, pero kaunting respeto naman Sara. Gawain yan ng pangulo, wag mo sanang pangunahan.” (I have no problem with you helping, but show a little respect, Sara. That is the President’s job; please don’t preempt him.) Social media users were quick to accept the false claim as true, questioning whether the lawmaker from Cagayan de Oro was jealous of Duterte. Some asked why all of the Vice President’s recent moves were being questioned rather than commended. The graphic was also reposted by various social media platforms. The facts: Suan did not make any statement about Duterte’s hospital visit, as confirmed by his office to Rappler. In a message, Political Affairs Officer 6 Joel Torres said, “Hindi po kailanman nagsabi o naglabas ng anumang pahayag na katulad nito si Cong Suan. Hinihikayat po namin ang lahat to verify information first before believing or sharing it.” (Cong. Suan has never said or issued any statement like this. We urge everyone to verify information first before believing or sharing it.) The post’s false claim mirrors a recently-debunked fake quote attributed to Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro. Duterte’s field hospital visit: The photo used in the false claim’s graphics came from the Vice President’s visit to a field hospital in June 2026 in Sarangani. Duterte visited the Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team Field Hospital at the Glan School of Arts and Trades, where she checked on the conditions and medical needs of residents affected by the earthquake that struck Mindanao on June 26. Suan and Duterte’s impeachment: Suan is among 11 House prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Duterte, the first public official to be impeached twice by the lower chamber. Duterte’s trial is currently in its fourth week. She is accused of several alleged offenses based on four grounds: Culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust, related to her alleged misuse of public funds Culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, related to her supposed unexplained wealth, stemming from discrepancies in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) Bribery, graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust, related to her alleged monetary gifts to education department officials Culpable violation of the Constitution, high crimes, and betrayal of public trust, related to her alleged death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House speaker Martin Romualdez – Lourence Angelo Marcellana/Rappler.com Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at [email protected]. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.