FALSE: Calilung arrested after testimony at Senate for VP Sara’s impeachment trials

Elijah Costes

A video has been circulating online, stating that National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent Calilung, a recent witness on VP Sara’s impeachment trials, was arrested after testifying to the senator-judges.

CLAIM:

The video quoted Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano stating that he allegedly would have Calilung arrested.  “Ipapakulong kita, Mr. Witness, kapag nagsinungaling ka under oath.” 

RATING: FALSE

CONCLUSION:

Sen. Cayetano has left remarks of alleged arrest as a hypothetical scenario to show how important Calilung’s words to be true. These remarks weren’t made to send out a formal order. Rather, it was a warning for Calilung to state the truth only as he was under oath.

THE FACTS:

• The post was positioned to send out false, sensational news that may emotionally sway viewers once the thumbnail was read. Simply, it was clickbait.
• The video surfaced during the time of VP Sara’s impeachment trials, wherein the House prosecution panel had NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung serve as the first witness from the prosecution to testify for Article IV of the impeachment articles, which tackled the grave threats the Vice President had allegedly spoken towards the First Family and then House Speaker Romualdez.
• The video did not show evidence of their claim. Rather, it showed a commentary from a pro-Duterte vlogger and an interview with lawyer Salvador Panelo.
• No credible source or media outlet has verified the claim of Calilung being arrested as a fact.
• Calilung was able to leave the premises of the Senate on July 8 after being cross-examined by defense counsel Mark Vinluan.

THE BOTTOMLINE:

Contrary to circulating posts online that NBI Senior Agent Calilung was arrested after being a witness to the Article IV of VP Sara’s impeachment trials, no credible source has proven this claim. Rather, Calilung was found to have left the plenary hall on July 8 after being cross-examined.