CLAIM: Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos claimed that the Marcoses are the only political family in the Philippines that is not corrupt.
RATING: FALSE
A Facebook post that circulated online in April falsely attributed a manufactured quote to Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos III, claiming he said that only the Marcos family was “not corrupt.”
Flagged content: The quote card posted on Facebook showed Marcos speaking to reporters during a media interview.
- The post included text that read: “Kaming mga Marcos lang ang hindi korap sa ating bansa,” falsely presenting it as a direct quote from Marcos.
- Inserted into the graphic is a photo of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. with the text: “Utang ng Pilipinas pumalo na sa P17.71 trillion.”
- The image was posted by a pro-Duterte Facebook page, “Onyarap Joejoe,” and has since drawn 62 reactions and more than 120 comments.
Our debunk: There is no official record of a public event or news interview in which the president’s son and House majority leader made the claim.
- The image used in the post was an Inquirer file photo taken on the sidelines of bicameral deliberations on the proposed 2023 national budget.
- The statement does not appear in any coverage from credible media outlets.
- Keyword searches show the quote circulating only in unverified social media posts and edited graphics.
Rewind: The government began to pursue the Marcos family’s ill-gotten wealth following the 1986 “People Power” Revolution, prompting the formation of the PCGG, or Presidential Commission on Good Government, to recover billions in stolen assets.
- The Supreme Court (G.R. No. 152154) ruled that $658 million in Marcos Swiss bank deposits was “ill-gotten.” To date, the PCGG has recovered over ₱174 billion in stolen assets.
- Citing the April 2026 Ombudsman Briefing (Ref: OMB-2026-04) and Senate Blue Ribbon findings, the Ombudsman is finalizing plunder charges against former speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero over alleged 2024–2025 flood control irregularities, with a formal filing set for May 2026.
- PCIJ and the House Tri-Committee (2025) said Rep. Sandro Marcos was the top lawmaker with “allocable” public works funds, amounting to ₱15.8 billion—the highest among district representatives.
Why we fact-checked this: The post has drawn hundreds of likes and comments, indicating continued engagement.
- The Facebook page that posted the graphic had over 175,000 followers, indicating its potential to amplify content.
Spot the fake: Public officials’ controversial claims or statements are usually covered by credible news sources, often backed by video or transcripts.
- Fabricated quotes often spread through edited images that use real photos but add unverified text without context or sourcing.
- Always check if a quote is from full interviews, official statements, or reliable news sources before considering it authentic. Patricia Alvarado
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