FACT CHECK: Gerville Luistro did not say she’s ready to replace Sara Duterte as VP

Luistro herself debunked the supposed quote card, calling it 'fake news'

AT A GLANCE

• Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro did not make a statement about replacing Vice President Sara Duterte amid her impeachment case, despite a viral post claiming otherwise.
• Luistro confirmed that the quote attributed to her was fake.
• Luistro has been actively involved in the impeachment process and has previously called for scrutiny of Duterte's fitness for future office, while the prosecution continues to present evidence against the Vice President.

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Claim: Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro said she’s ready to replace Vice President Sara Duterte amid the latter’s ongoing impeachment case.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: Facebook user Artsky Abdul Esonsa posted on September 6 a quote card featuring Luistro, the lead public prosecutor in Duterte’s impeachment trial.

“Pagod na ang taong-bayan sa kahihintay na mapanagot si VP Sara Duterte. Nakahanda akong papalit at uupong VP,” the quote attributed to Luistro read.

(The public is tired of waiting for VP Sara Duterte to be held accountable. I am ready to step in and assume the role of Vice President.)

The post garnered 8,300 reactions, 3,500 comments, and 129 shares. Many commenters believed the post and criticized Luistro.

The facts: No public statements or interviews show that Luistro said this.

In a short message to Rappler on Friday, September 18, the congresswoman said, “Fake news. I never said that.”

Under Section 9, Article VII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, a legislator from the Senate or the House of Representatives may be nominated by the president to assume the vice presidency in the event the position becomes vacant, subject to “confirmation by a majority vote of all the members of both Houses of the Congress, voting separately.” (READ: If the vice president is impeached, who takes over?)

Duterte’s impeachment trial is currently ongoing, with no decision yet on her conviction or acquittal.

Luistro’s role in the impeachment proceedings: Luistro has been a key figure in the impeachment process and in investigations into the Dutertes. She was among the 215 lawmakers who signed the first impeachment complaint against the Vice President in February 2025, before the Supreme Court declared the process unconstitutional, and was part of the original prosecution team in 2025.

At the start of the 20th Congress, Luistro was appointed chairperson of the House justice committee, putting her at the helm of any impeachment complaint referred to the panel.

She also took part in the House quad committee investigations on former president Rodrigo Duterte’s role in his war on drugs campaign, as well as scrutinizing the Office of the Vice President’s budget and spending.

The Batangas lawmaker has repeatedly emphasized the people’s right to demand accountability from their elected leaders. On September 8, the prosecution declared that it plans to call Duterte to the witness stand, with Luistro saying that having the Vice President personally answer the allegations against her is in the spirit of transparency and accountability.

Luistro has also previously said that the impeachment trial would help the public scrutinize whether Duterte is “fit to be the next president” in 2028. 

The prosecution is currently presenting evidence on Article II of the impeachment articles, which tackles Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth. The Vice President also faces allegations of misuse of confidential funds, bribery of Department of Education officials, and grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family.

Impeachment-related fact checks: Rappler has fact-checked numerous claims related to the Vice President’s impeachment trial:

• FACT CHECK: Poa remains VP Sara’s counsel, defense spokesperson in impeachment trial
• FACT CHECK: Cayetano didn’t say VP Sara should face impeachment court; quote card is fake
• FACT CHECK: Escudero didn’t say prosecution ‘fabricated’ allegations vs VP Sara
• FACT CHECK: Tolosa not ‘fired’ from VP Sara’s impeachment trial
• FACT CHECK: AI-manipulated video misrepresents VP Sara counsel’s opening statement 

– Eirene Manatlao/Rappler.com 

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