Fact Check: Actress Ara Mina Did Not Make Alleged Critical Statement Against Dutertes

A widely circulated Facebook post falsely attributed a harsh statement criticizing the Duterte family to actress Ara Mina, claiming she accused them of stealing money and questioned their plans to run for office in 2028. This claim has been debunked as fabricated after a thorough review found no evidence that Ara Mina made such remarks.

The misleading post originated from a Facebook page named Philippine Daily Inquiry, which mimics the name and design of the legitimate news outlet Philippine Daily Inquirer. The post, dated August 25, 2026, gained traction with 279 reactions on the original page and was reposted by other pages such as Bayan ng Pangako and Tiger 99, where it received thousands of reactions and comments.

The quote card in the post showed the actress allegedly saying it was obvious the Dutertes had stolen money but had not been jailed, and expressed disbelief that they still intended to run for office in 2028. However, no interview, official statement, social media post, or credible news report could be found to verify that Ara Mina ever made such a statement.

While the post included factual elements—such as Vice President Sara Duterte’s announcement of her 2028 presidential bid and ongoing investigations into her alleged misuse of confidential funds—these facts do not authenticate the fabricated quote attributed to the actress.

Vice President Sara Duterte is currently undergoing an impeachment trial related to allegations of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which she previously headed. She also faces accusations of unexplained wealth, bribery involving Department of Education officials, and grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The Philippine Daily Inquiry page has a history of posting fabricated quotes, including false statements attributed to Senator Pia Cayetano and actress Bianca Gonzalez, both criticizing the Dutertes. These instances further undermine the credibility of the page and the quote attributed to Ara Mina.

This fact check was conducted to combat misinformation and disinformation spreading on social media platforms. Readers are encouraged to verify statements through credible sources and report suspicious content. The author of this fact check, Vic Albert Bagaan, is a petroleum engineering student and editor-in-chief of Pioneer Publication, and an Aries Rufo Fellow for 2026. Rappler continues to monitor and address false claims circulating online.