Vera Files

“President Rodrigo Duterte heeds the advise of some Cabinet members that "nothing good" would come out of a debate with retired Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio and, it would be a "demotion" for a sitting president to engage in a debate with an "ordinary lawyer.”

Vera Files says: It was Duterte himself who dared Carpio to a debate considering that they "are both lawyers."

“President Rodrigo Duterte says the Philippines' historic arbitral win in July 2016 against China on the South China Sea dispute is "just a (piece of) paper" that he would "throw into the wastebasket.”

Vera Files says: In his speech at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2020, Duterte "firmly reject(ed)" attempts to "undermine" the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. He declared that the arbi…

“Si Lapulapu ay isang Tausug.”

Vera Files says: Nilinaw na ng National Historical Commission of the Philippines na ang pinagmulan, kasama ang ethnicity, ni Lapulapu ay nananatiling walang nakaaalam dahil sa kawalan ng "anumang kapani-paniwala na eyewitness account o …

“There is '"historical fact" in the assertion of Sen. Christopher ""Bong"" Go that Lapulapu was a Tausug leader from the "East Kingdom of Sulu.”

Vera Files says: The National Historical Commission says that details about Lapulapu’s personal life and origin, including his ethnicity as a Tausug warrior from a Sulu kingdom, remain a mystery due to lack of “any credible eyewitness a…

“Vice President Leni Robredo posed in front of Sen. Leila de Lima's jail cell as its facade was being painted”

“Photo shows 26 corrupt politicians sentenced to death in China”

“Photos show the Kumbh Mela festival in April 2021 before a COVID-19 surge hit India”

“President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to “blow up” (pasabugin) the country's ties with China over the West Philippine Sea issue”

“President Rodrigo Duterte said former president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio sold the West Philippine Sea to China”

“President Rodrigo Duterte said: "Siraan maan ako ng kung sino-sino mananatili pa rin silang sinungaling sa mata ng taong nakakakilala sa akin ng totoo”

“Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. apologized to the Chinese ambassador for his strongly-worded tweets over China's occupation of disputed areas within the West Philippine Sea.”

Vera Files says: Locsin said he apologized only to his “friend” and counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and “nobody else.”

“Humingi ng paumanhin si Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. sa Chinese ambassador dahil sa kanyang matatapang na mga tweet tungkol sa pananakop ng China sa mga pinagtatalunang lugar sa West Philippine Sea.”

Vera Files says: Sinabi ni Locsin na humihingi lamang siya ng paumanhin sa kanyang "kaibigan" at counterpart na si Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, at "wala nang iba."

“People in Israel no longer have to wear masks.”

“A lot of high-quality scientific studies, including 50 clinical trials, attest to ivermectin's safety and efficacy.”

“Hindi kailanman ako nangako sa mga tao sa aking kampanya bilang pangulo na babawiin ko ang West Philippine Sea. Hindi ako nangako na ipe-pressure ko ang China. Hindi ko binanggit kahit kailan ang tungkol sa [pinagtatalunan ng] China at Pilipinas sa aking kampanya dahil iyan ay isang napakaseryosong bagay.”

Vera Files says: Sa debate ng presidential candidates noong April 2016, sinabi ni Duterte: "Pag sinabi [ng PCA na] panalo tayo [at] ayaw ng China, hindi ako makikipag-giyera … Pupunta ako sa China. Ngayon, 'pag ayaw nila, sasabihin ko s…

“I never, never in my campaign as president promised the people that I would retake the West Philippine Sea. I did not promise that I would pressure China. I never mentioned about [the row between] China and the Philippines in my campaign because that was a very serious matter. - President Rodrigo Duterte on May 3, 2021”

Vera Files says: During a debate among presidential candidates in April 2016, Duterte said: "Pag sinabi [ng PCA na] panalo tayo [at] ayaw ng China, I will not go to war … Pupunta ako sa China. Ngayon, ‘pag ayaw nila, then I will ask the…

“President Rodrigo Duterte has removed Manny Pacquiao from his position as president of PDP Laban”

“Nagkakalat ng mali at walang ebidensyang post sa Facebook si NICA chief Alex Monteagudo na nagta-tag sa COURAGE at SENADO bilang mga front ng kilusang komunista. Ang na-share na post ay nagsasabing dapat nang tumigil ang apat na senador ng oposisyon sa pagtatanggol sa COURAGE na 52 taon nang front ng CPP-NPA-NDF.”

Vera Files says: Ang COURAGE, na itinatag noong Mayo 1986, ay 35 taon na, hindi 52 tulad ng sinabi sa post na ibinahagi ni NICA director general Alex Monteagudo. Ang CPP ang itinatag nang higit 52 taon na ang nakalilipas, noong Disyembr…

“NICA chief Alex Monteagudo shares inaccurate and unsubstantiated Facebook post that tags COURAGE and SENADO as fronts of the communist movement. The shared post says four opposition senators should stop defending COURAGE that has been operating for 52 years as a front organization of the CPP-NPA-NDF.”

Vera Files says: COURAGE, having been founded in May 1986, has been around for 35 years, not 52 as the post shared by the NICA director general Alex Monteagudo claimed. It was the CPP that was established more than 52 years ago, in Dece…

“Photos of youth activists show they are defending the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and are calling for the shutting down of community pantries”