MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte did not request a private meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her defense spokesperson Michael Poa said Monday, dismissing reports circulating online as “fake news” after the 17th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Poa said he had spoken with Duterte and confirmed that no such request had been made.
“I had a chance to talk to the Vice President … [at] talagang fake news siya,” Poa said at a press conference after Monday’s impeachment proceedings.
Poa said he knew of no attempt from Duterte’s camp to arrange a private meeting with Marcos.
“None that I know of,” he said when asked whether Duterte had made any actual attempt to meet the President.
The Palace had earlier declined to confirm reports that Duterte sought a meeting with Marcos.
Poa compared the report with previous claims that he or another member of Duterte’s defense team had been hit with a laptop, which he also described as false.
“Hindi siya nalalayo doon sa news a few months ago na nabato daw ako ng laptop or kung anuman or kung hindi man ako kahit sino sa defense team,” he said.
Poa declined to speculate on the source of the latest report but urged the public to verify information circulating on social media.
“Gusto ko lang sabihin, dapat mas maging mapagmatsag tayo sa mga nababasa natin sa social media,” he said.
He also urged the public to check whether information they encounter online comes from legitimate sources, noting the prevalence of false information on social media.