FACT CHECK: Marcos did not flee to Canada amid INC protest

Claim: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has fled the country to go to Canada after his administration was surprised by the rally at EDSA staged by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim was posted on YouTube on July 1 by Bisdak Pilipinas, which has more than 337,000 subscribers. The video itself has gained more than 53,000 views and 6,400 likes as of writing.

The video’s title claims, “Nag-panic mode na si BBM sa INC rally! Lalayas na papuntang Canada? PNP at AFP naka-red alert na din.”

([Bongbong Marcos] went into panic mode due to the INC rally! Is he going to flee to Canada? [Philippine National Police] and [Armed Forces of the Philippines] are also on red alert.)

The content creator implied that Marcos went on “panic mode” and escaped the country after the INC staged a surprise rally on June 30, which continued on for two more days.

He also questioned the decision of the police to declare full alert status, saying that this was a sign that the Marcos administration was afraid that it would be overthrown.

YouTube commenters commended the religious group for allegedly causing the President to leave the country, with others calling for Marcos not to return.

The facts: The President did not go to Canada to escape amid the INC protest, but to attend an official visit aimed at deepening the partnership between the two nations.

Even before the surprise rally by the INC from June 30 to July 2, the President’s Canada trip was already announced by Malacañang on June 26. Marcos was in Vancouver from July 1 to 4, the first visit by a Philippine president in more than a decade since the late Benigno Aquino III’s visit in 2015.

Marcos’ visit aimed to assess and strengthen defense and security engagements, including the expansion of trade and investment to enhance economic resilience and strengthen collaboration in energy and other critical minerals.

During the official visit, Marcos and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney witnessed the signing of several frameworks and agreements, including one on the development of energy and natural resources in the Philippines, migrant workers, culture, and tourism.

Surprise INC rally: The influential religious group staged a surprise rally against the impending arrest of Senator Rodante Marcoleta on June 30. The protest continued for two more days, with the third day of protest held at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.

Marcoleta is currently facing a non-bailable plunder case due to questions over his P75-million campaign donations.

On Monday, July 6, Marcoleta surrendered and is now in the custody of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan, which earlier issued a warrant of arrest for the senator. – Lourence Angelo Marcellana/Rappler.com

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