FALSE: San Beda Law alumni’s manifesto of support calls Pacquiao arrogant

At a glance

• Claim: The San Beda Law Alumni Association called Senator Manny Pacquiao arrogant in a manifesto of support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s handling of the West Philippine Sea issue.
• Rating: FALSE
• The facts: The manifesto of support never mentioned Pacquiao at all. 
• Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in a video by the YouTube channel “Showbiz Fanaticz,” with 43,399 views, as of writing.

Complete details

YouTube channel “Showbiz Fanaticz” posted a video on Thursday, May 20, claiming that a manifesto of support by the San Beda Law Alumni Association on President Rodrigo Duterte’s handling of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue called Senator Manny Pacquiao arrogant.

The video is titled “NAKAKAGULAT: San Beda Law School KINALADKAD sa KAHIHIYAN si PACQUIAO| ‘MASYADO KANANG YUMAYABANG!!’” (Shocking: San Beda Law School drags Pacquiao through embarrassment | ‘You’re becoming too arrogant!’) As of writing, the video has 43,399 views.

This claim is false. 

The manifesto did not mention Pacquiao at all, or use any known reference to him, such as “People’s Champ” or “Pambansang Kamao.” 

Instead, the manifesto states Duterte’s approach to the West Philippine Sea issue, his standing as “chief architect” of Philippine foreign policy, his knowledge of facts inaccessible to ordinary Filipinos, and his wisdom and the views of international relations experts as bases for his stand. It also calls on Filipinos to unite behind Duterte and adds that, while the association respects everyone’s right to share different views on the issue, our system of government requires citizens to submit to the President’s judgment.

The manifesto of support was published on May 19 and signed by the San Beda Law Alumni Association leaders and board of trustees, including Duterte’s Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Other San Beda alumni took a different position. On May 16, they asked Duterte to retract his statement that trashed the 2016 Hague ruling that gave the Philippines a legal victory against China’s nine-dash line claims. 

In the video on “Showbiz Fanaticz,” which reiterates that Pacquiao was embarrassed by the San Beda Law Alumni Association, the manifesto is read out, but nowhere is there a reference to Pacquiao being called arrogant.

On May 3, news reports came out on Pacquiao’s comments that he found Duterte’s stance on the West Philippine Sea issue lacking, which led to some backlash. Malacañang, though, has stated that no “falling out” took place between Duterte and Pacquiao over the latter’s remarks. PDP-Laban, the political party both Duterte and Pacquiao belong to, has stated that Pacquiao wasn’t criticizing Duterte when he gave those comments.

Rappler has fact-checked “Showbiz Fanaticz” multiple times before. – Percival Bueser/Rappler.com

This article was written by a volunteer of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program, a 5-week exclusive and hands-on training on detecting, investigating, and verifying online misinformation and disinformation.

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