FACT CHECK: Video shows Robredo’s 2021 message on Martial Law, not resignation call vs Marcos

Claim: Naga City Mayor and former vice president Leni Robredo criticized the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and called for his resignation. 

Rating: FALSE 

Why we fact-checked this: The video, posted on November 22, has already received 425,000 views, 6,300 reactions, 2,400 shares, and 1,600 comments as of writing. The video shows Robredo saying, “…ulit-ulitin, sa bawat pagkakataon, ang katotohanan: Sa ilalim ng rehimeng Marcos, nagdusa ang Pilipino — ninakawan, tinorture, at pinaslang; ginamit ang ngalan para ibaon ang bansa sa utang, at pagbabayaran ang utang na ito hanggang sa mga susunod pang henerasyon.” 

(We should repeat, at every opportunity, the truth: Under the Marcos regime, Filipinos suffered — robbed, tortured, and murdered. The country’s name was used for debt, and succeeding generations will pay for this debt.)

A photo of Marcos is shown beside Robredo. Text overlaid on the video reads, “Bumaba ka na Marcos (Step down, Marcos)” and “Tama po Mam Leni, kung may konsensya pa sya bumaba na BBM (That’s right, Ma’am Leni. If he still has a conscience, BBM should step down).” 

Some Facebook users believe that Robredo’s message was directed at Marcos.

The facts: The video of Robredo was originally posted on September 21, 2021, during her vice presidency, as a commemorative message for the 49th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, father of the current president.

Contrary to what the claim implies, Robredo’s message was not directed at the younger Marcos amid the corruption issues faced by his government. 

In her two-minute message, the then-vice president reminded Filipinos that silence will enable historical revisionism.

“Ipinapaalala sa atin ng kasalukuyang sitwasyon kung kailan malinaw ang pagsisikap na baluktutin ang katotohanan ng malagim na kabanatang ‘yon: Kumukupas ang alaala; kung minsan, nabibili ang plataporma; ang kuwento, nabubura,” she said. 

(The current situation, where it’s also clear that there is an eagerness to revise that dark chapter, reminds us that memories fade. Sometimes, platforms can be bought and stories can be erased.)

She continued by reminding Filipinos to always remember and speak up, as silence will let wealth and power dictate their history. 

Robredo made the message in 2021, at a time when Marcos was hinting at the possibility of running for president in the 2022 elections. Robredo had said then that the Marcoses’ attempt to return to Malacañang might convince her to run for the presidency. 

The two did become the closest rivals in the 2022 national elections, where Marcos won the presidency.

Corruption scandals: The misleading video was posted amid the corruption issues faced by the current Marcos administration related to ghost flood control projects and the alleged budget insertion scheme. (READ: Tracing the money, exposing the network: A year of Rappler investigations)

In recent weeks, former lawmaker Zaldy Co revealed in a series of “tell-all” videos that P57 billion in kickbacks was allegedly delivered to Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, on top of an alleged P100 billion budget insertion by the two. (READ: Zaldy Co, whistleblower?)

Previous fact checks: Rappler has previously fact-checked false claims about Robredo, Marcos, and Co: 

• FACT CHECK: Leni Robredo visited the sick during her term as VP 
• FACT CHECK: AI-manipulated clip misrepresents Zaldy Co video on flood control scandal
• FACT CHECK: Video of Legacy Construction owner at flood control hearing is AI-manipulated 
• FACT CHECK: No reports of Marcos rushed to hospital due to medical emergency 
• FACT CHECK: Marcos remains president, did not resign 

– Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com 

Angelee Kaye Abelinde is a student journalist based in Naga City, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024. 

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