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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sandro Marcos refuses to legitimize zero MOOE issue, lectures reporter

Sandro Marcos refuses to legitimize zero MOOE issue, lectures reporter

Published Jun 17, 2026 07:13 pm

At A Glance

  • Majority Leader Sandro Marcos refuses to comment on an unverified claim that General Santos City had no MOOE, stressing it was baseless rumor.
  • He advises a reporter to verify information before asking, saying the alleged zero budget made no sense and should not be passed around.
  • Marcos assured the House was in constant coordination with quake-hit districts to provide assistance as needed.
House Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
House Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


House Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos flatly refused to comment on an "unverified" allegation regarding budget matters Wednesday, lest it gets propagated as fact afterward.
A visibly irate Marcos stood his ground on Wednesday, June 17 after a House reporter repeatedly asked him to comment on the allegation that General Santos City in Mindanao had no Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).
For Marcos, the zero MOOE claim makes zero sense. But the particular reporter didn't quit easily.
"Ma'am, parang kwento-kwento lang yan (Ma'am that's likely all rumor). There's no such thing as zero MOOE. There's no such thing as zero budget either," he said.
In the backdrop of the question is the destructive 7.8-,magnitude earthquake that struck Mindanao, including General Santos City.
"Sir, wala daw po AICS or MAIP yung Gensan? (Sir, they said there's no Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation or Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients for Gensan?)" the reporter pressed.
But the jig was up, at least for the majority leader. "Ma'am, that's impossible. Saan mo yan narinig? Ipa-verify mo muna dapat (Where did you hear that? Have that verified first)."
When the reporter mentioned the name of another House member as the source of this allegation, Marcos replied that it was incumbent upon her to double-check the information herself and not simply pass it around.
"Yan ang narinig mo. Venerify mo ba?...Answer my question. Venerify mo ba? Venerify mo ba yes or no? Okay. So next time, ma'am, i-verify muna natin bago natin itanong para hindi lang kwento. Okay?"
(That's what you heard. Did you verify it?...Answer my question. Did you verify it? Did you verify it, yes or no? Okay. So next time, ma’am, let’s verify first before we ask so it won’t just be a story. Okay?)
It didn't help the reporter's case when she replied that it should be the other House member who should pursue verification.
"Hindi. Tinatanong kita. Tinatanong kita (No. I'm asking you. I'm asking you). Di ba, As journalists, it's also our responsibility to verify the information that comes to us before we ask those who are being interviewed?" Marcos said.
"Okay. So next time, yes po, ma'am. So next time, let's just verify," he further advised the scribe.
"Kwento-kwento lang yan. As far as I know po, wala pong zero na ganun (That is all rumor. As far as I know, there is no such thing as zero). [Especially in] Gensan, who would be so stupid to do that? I mean, really. Thank you," the presidential son said to conclude the conversation.
In the same interview, Marcos assured the public that the House of Representatives was in constant coordination with the quake-hit districts for the purpose of rendering assistance.

Related Tags

MOOE General Santos Sandro Marcos EARTHQUAKE MINDANAO
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