FACT CHECK: No report of Trump courtesy call on Sara; Marcos remains president

Trump is coming for the ASEAN Summit hosted by Marcos, and Duterte remains Vice President on trial in the Senate

AT A GLANCE

• A claim that US President Donald Trump will make a courtesy call to Vice President Sara Duterte during his visit to the Philippines next month is rated FALSE.
• There is no official confirmation of Trump's courtesy call, and Duterte is not expected to become president, as President Marcos remains in office.
• Trump's visit is confirmed for the ASEAN Summit in Manila from November 16 to 18, where he will meet with ASEAN leaders.

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Claim: US President Donald Trump will make a courtesy call on Vice President Sara Duterte when he visits the Philippines next month, and Duterte will be the president by then.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: On October 22, Facebook user Rey Cano Salarda published a post that carries the claim.

It is a text card on a green background that reads, “U.S PRES TRUMP WILL VISIT PHIL. NEXT MONTH COURTESY CALL TO VP SARA, SI VP SARA NA PALA ANG PRESIDENTE NEXT MONTH” (So VP Sara will already be President next month). 

As of writing, the post has 29,000 reactions, 2,200 comments, and 1,200 shares.

The facts: There is no report, Palace statement, or White House announcement about a planned Trump courtesy call on Duterte. Trump’s planned visit will be for the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, which is hosted by the Philippines.

Also, Duterte will most likely not be replacing Marcos as the president next month. Marcos remains in office, and he has not resigned or been removed. Under Article VII, Section 8 of the Constitution, the Vice President takes over only if the President dies, becomes permanently disabled, is removed, or resigns.

The Palace has dismissed as “delusional” claims from Duterte’s camp that the Vice President is ready to replace Marcos.

Duterte is currently on trial before the Senate impeachment court. The trial resumes on November 9, when her defense team begins presenting its evidence on the remaining unexplained wealth article. The trial may or may not lead to her conviction and removal from office, not elevate her. (READ: Dropping 3 impeachment articles vs Sara, who benefits?)

Trump’s visit: Malacañang confirmed on October 14 that Trump will attend the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Manila. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that while it is confirmed, the rest of the details will not come from her. 

The summits run from November 16 to 18 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. The Philippines chairs ASEAN this year. Marcos declared those days as special non-working days in Metro Manila. 

The White House said Trump will take part in the summit on November 16 before heading to Shenzhen, China for the APEC summit. A US official said Marcos has been inviting Trump for some time. This will be his first visit to the Philippines since 2017.

At the summits, Trump will meet ASEAN leaders and other dialogue partners. The Department of Foreign Affairs expects leaders of China, Japan and South Korea to attend, along with UN Secretary-General António Guterres for the ASEAN-UN Summit.  – Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com

Efren Cyril Bocar is a journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar who graduated with a degree in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. Cyril is also a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024. 

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