FACT-CHECK: Former senator Trillanes did not volunteer to be acting president

admin 9:19 PM

CLAIM: Former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes volunteered to be the acting president instead of Vice President Sara Duterte in case a successor is needed. 

 

RATING: FALSE

 

A Facebook post falsely claimed that former senator Antonio Trillanes IV had volunteered to serve as acting president in place of Vice President Sara Duterte if a successor to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is needed.

Flagged content: The post was uploaded on April 11, with the caption falsely claiming that the former senator had offered to be the acting president instead of Duterte because she was “mentally impaired.”

  • The photo mimics the conventions of a quote card usually used by reputable news agencies, increasing its potential to mislead the audience. 
  • The caption read, “Dating Sen. Trillanes willing daw mag volunteer bilang Acting President at sinabing wag daw si Sara Duterte, di umano meron daw diperensya  sa pagiisip ang VP. Ano ang masasabi mo sa gantong mga wika ni Trillanes[?]” (“Former Sen. Trillanes is willing to volunteer as Acting President instead of Sara Duterte, allegedly because the VP is mentally impaired. What do you think of Trillanes’ words?”)
  • The actual quote falsely attributed to Trillanes said, “Pwede akong maging Acting President kung sakali. Wag si Sara may diperensya sa pagiisip.” (“I can volunteer as Acting President in case. Not Sara Duterte because she is mentally impaired.”) 
  • Trillanes’ image used in the graphic was a Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau photo taken on Sept. 2, 2015, during a public hearing.  

Our debunk: Trillanes did not volunteer to be acting president. 

  • The former senator and staunch Duterte critic has never made any statement of the kind on any of his official platforms, nor has he made similar comments in news interviews to date.
  • According to Republic Act No. 181 Section 1, the line of succession in case of the president’s removal, resignation, death, or inability to fulfill their duties is as follows: vice president, president of the Senate of the Philippines, speaker of the House of Representatives, and a senator or representative elected by the members of Congress. No one can volunteer to be acting president. 
  • In January 2026, Trillanes said he had no plans to run in the 2028 presidential elections or for any public office.

Rewind: The post was uploaded amid rumors of the president’s declining health, prompting conversations regarding succession in the event of the president’s incapacity or death. 

  • Trillanes is a resource person in the impeachment trial against the vice president. On April 18, the Anti-Money Laundering Committee (AMLC) confirmed 18 of Duterte’s transactions, vindicating Trillanes, who had made these claims before the 2016 elections. 

Why we fact-checked this: As of writing, the Facebook post has drawn over 5,000 likes, 3,000 comments, and 100 shares.

  • Facebook account Political toxic has over 4,000 followers.

Spot the fake: Stay vigilant against suspicious and inflammatory posts.

  • Check with official websites and reputable news outlets to confirm the facts. Khloe Lim

 


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