FACT CHECK: Vice Ganda quote card on Duterte drug war, pandemic response is fake

Claim: Comedian and television host Vice Ganda said the following statement in a quote card circulating online after the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte:

“I don’t want to be hypocritical, let’s admit that during FPRRD’s time, most addicts changed their lives, most criminals gave up, because they were afraid of Duterte. You go out at night confidently because you know that the criminals have been reduced. 

If Duterte hadn’t led the pandemic, we would all be dead. Duterte used all the government funds just to get us through the pandemic.”

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook post circulated after Duterte’s arrest on Tuesday, March 11. As of writing, the Facebook post bearing the claim has 1,600 shares, 650 reactions, and 95 comments. Several Facebook accounts and pages are also reposting the same claim.

The facts: The quote card attributed to Vice Ganda is fake. On her official and verified X account, she debunked the claim in a post on Tuesday, March 11: “I never stated this. Pls (please) report.”

The comedian’s official X account is @vicegandako, not @viceganda, as shown in the fake quote card.

No reports or news articles corroborate the alleged quote from Vice Ganda. In a Facebook post, the comedian host also reminded the public to be critical and not to believe information coming from unverified sources.

Duterte’s arrest: Duterte was arrested on March 11 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport following the issuance of a warrant of arrest by the International Criminal Court. The former president was arrested over crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s bloody drug war that killed close to 30,000 people, based on tallies by human rights groups.

On the same day, Duterte was flown out of the country to The Hague, Netherlands, to face trial at the international court.

Debunked: Vice Ganda has previously been a subject of disinformation peddlers. Rappler has published fact checks involving the comedian: 

• FACT CHECK: Marcos, Duterte did not order Vice Ganda to leave the country
• FALSE: Vice Ganda endorses bitcoin products
• HINDI TOTOO: Bidyo ng pahayag ni Vice Ganda tungkol sa pag-host ni Toni Gonzaga sa Marcos rally
• FACT CHECK: No official statement from MTRCB vs Vice Ganda

 – Owenh Jake Toledo/Rappler.com

Owenh Jake Toledo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

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