FACT CHECK: Unrelated audio used in video of crowd mocking VP Sara in Hong Kong

Claim: A video shows overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) chanting a song with the lyrics “Sara Sara Magnanakaw” (Sara, Sara is a thief) during Vice President Sara Duterte’s visit to Hong Kong.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim appears in a video shared in multiple Facebook posts on November 8 by various pages and accounts, including the following:

• A post from the page “Pro Filipinas,” with around 25,400 reactions, 7,400 comments, 4,200 shares, and 700,000 views as of writing
• A post from the account “Nhenz Ros,” with around 10,500 reactions, 3,100 comments, 1,700 shares, and 269,000 views as of writing
• Posts on November 8 from the account “Yayam Dizon,” the account “Anna Belle,” the page “Kagawad Joey,” and the page “Venus Domingo Dugam.”

The facts: The video showing a crowd seemingly calling Duterte a thief used audio from a different, unrelated source: a video titled “Sara, Sara magnanakaw” posted on July 6 on the YouTube channel and Facebook page of Abante News Online. 

The Abante News Online video showed protesters chanting the exact same lyrics and in the same tone in front of the Senate building. July 6 was the first day of Duterte’s impeachment trial. (READ: Inside the courtroom: Week 1 of Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial)

Other videos from Duterte’s meeting with OFWs in Hong Kong do not show the crowd singing the song.

Duterte traveled to Hong Kong from November 6 to 8 “to attend engagements and participate in various activities, including an event organized by the Filipino community,” according to a statement released by the Office of the Vice President.

Impeachment trial updates: The impeachment trial of the Vice President resumed on Monday, November 9, following a nearly monthlong break. It is currently the turn of the defense, led by counsel Sheila Sison, to present its evidence and witnesses. (READ: Sara Duterte trial: Defense begins presentation of evidence)

On October 13, the last trial date before the break, the prosecution dropped three of the four Articles of Impeachment against Duterte — the articles on alleged confidential fund misuse, bribery, and grave threats — leaving only the unexplained wealth case to expedite the proceedings. 

On November 5, the Senate impeachment court confirmed admitting the prosecution’s evidence against Duterte, overruling the defense’s objections regarding the admissibility and relevance of the prosecution’s documentary evidence. (LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte)

Previous related fact-checks: Rappler has fact-checked numerous videos containing audio later determined to be superimposed on unrelated video, such as in the following fact-checks:

• FACT CHECK: ‘Duterte’ chants in video are manipulated, not taken in Netherlands (March 13, 2025)
• FACT CHECK: Duterte chants fabricated in video of Alyansa slate rally (February 20, 2025)
• FACT CHECK: ‘Duterte!’ chants fabricated in video of Pope Francis’ East Timor visit (September 16, 2024)
• MANIPULADONG BIDYO: Kinanta ang isang UniTeam chant sa BTS concert (March 23, 2022)
• FALSE: Cebuanos scream ‘Fuck you’ at Bongbong Marcos during his visit (October 26, 2021)

Rappler has also fact-checked several false claims regarding Duterte’s ongoing impeachment trial. – Percival Bueser/Rappler.com

Percival Bueser 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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