FACT-CHECK: Senate President Tito Sotto did not faint during a Senate hearing

Dec 3, 2025 | Fact Checked by PressOnePH

CLAIM: Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III fainted in the middle of a Senate hearing.
 
RATING: FALSE

 

A YouTube video uploaded by the channel “BOSES NG MASA” falsely and maliciously claimed that Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III fainted in the middle of a Senate hearing due to evidence disclosed by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.

Flagged content: The Nov. 4 video had a caption that read, “HALA! SOTTO NAHIMATAY SA HEARING?! MARCOLETA NAGLABAS NG SHOCKING NA EBIDENSYA?! (sic).” (“Sotto fainted during hearing, Marcoleta revealed shocking evidence.”)

  • The content of the video bore no relation to its title.

Our debunk: No statements or posts from the Senate confirmed that Sotto had fainted in the middle of the Senate hearing. Days after the false claim surfaced, Sotto made public appearances at the Senate.

  • On Nov. 4, on the same day the video was uploaded, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said in a press briefing that he had communicated with Sotto regarding his intent to return as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
  • On Nov. 5, Sotto led the formal turnover of the Senate Mobile Clinic at the Senate grounds. 
  • Sotto led the launch of the redesigned Senate website on Nov. 11.

Rewind: Sotto has been involved in Senate hearings about corruption scandals as he is the Senate president. 

  • On Sept. 8, Sotto reclaimed the Senate presidency from Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero. 
  • On Nov. 4, Sotto’s former “Eat Bulaga” noontime show co-host, Anjo Yllana, claimed that the senator has a mistress. 

Why we fact-checked this: This is an example of news-cycle disinformation, which seeks to deceive audiences who follow real-time news updates. 

  • The YouTube video has garnered 5,563 views, 21 comments, and 257 likes as of writing. 

Spot the fake: Follow channels that are sources of reliable information.

  • To confirm suspicious information about government officials, find official statements or press releases on government websites. Francis Mediavillo


IFCN Signatory Badge

PressOne.PH is a verified signatory of the Code of Principles of the International Fact -Checking Network (IFCN) at Poynter. The code of principles of the International Fact-Checking Network is a series of commitments organizations abide by to promote excellence in fact-checking. We believe nonpartisan and transparent fact-checking can be a powerful instrument of accountability journalism..

PressOne.PH believes that fact-checking is essential to combating misinformation and disinformation, and in informing and educating citizens and voters. Read more of PressOne.PH’s Fact-Checking Policy by clicking here.

The public is welcome to send feedback or requests for fact-checks at factcheck@pressone.ph.

If you believe PressOne.PH is violating the Code of Principles of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), you may submit a complaint directly to the IFCN website: https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/complaints-policy

<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1535372364357523" data-ad-slot="8956430836" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});