FACT-CHECK: Viral photo of ‘Bring Him Home’ rally taken in Netherlands, not in PH

admin 12:19 AM
CLAIM: The anti-corruption rallies on Sept. 21 were hijacked by Duterte supporters.
RATING: MISSING CONTEXT

 

A photo circulating on Facebook claims  “Diehard Duterte Supporters” (DDS) hijacked the Sept. 21 anti-corruption rallies in Manila and Quezon City.

FLAGGED CONTENT: Facebook page “Oposisyon 2025” posted a photo in the morning of Sept. 21, as rallies were starting. The photo showed two women holding a black flag with the Philippine flag printed on it and the words: “BRING HIM HOME, FREE DUTERTE.”

OUR DEBUNK:

  • The actual photo was not taken during the Sept. 21 anti-corruption rallies in the Philippines.
  • It originally came from a GMA News Facebook post dated Sept. 20 (Netherlands time), and posted at 8:16 a.m., Sept. 21 (Philippine time).
  • The image was from a rally at The Hague, Netherlands attended by about 500 Duterte supporters.
  • By omitting the date and location, “Oposisyon 2025” misrepresented the photo as being part of local protests and drew unnecessary hate toward certain political groups.
  • Groups loyal to former president Rodrigo Duterte also organized their own rallies on the same day in locations different from the anti-corruption protests organized by the youth, civil society organizations, and church and progressive groups.

REWIND:

  • Sept. 20: Duterte supporters gathered at The Hague with a “Bring Him Home, Free Duterte” banner.
  • Sept. 21: Anti-corruption rallies in the Philippines began.
  • Same day: “Oposisyon 2025” posted the Hague photo, falsely linking it to the local protests.

WHY WE FACT-CHECKED THIS: The post spread quickly—garnering more than 50,000 reactions, 2,000 shares, and 1,600 comments in just two hours. Such misrepresentation fuels hateful narratives that DDS groups are infiltrating anti-corruption movements, discounting their right to also protest.

SPOT THE FAKE:

  • Always check the date and source of viral photos.
  • Verify location markers—what looks like a local protest may actually be abroad.
  • Be cautious of pages omitting key details to stir controversy. Hurt Allauigan


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