At least two Facebook posts falsely attributed a viral statement to retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Romeo Poquiz denouncing the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos claiming they no longer have a mandate to lead. This is fake.
VERA Files traced the earliest publicly available copy of the claim to a Sept. 6 post by an FB user. The graphic contains a photo of Poquiz and this fake quote attributed to him:
“Hindi sobra na, kundi sobra sobra na. So, ano na?
Liza at BBM, wala na kayong saysay sa Pilipinas para manatili pa. Hindi niyo pagmamay-ari ang Pilipinas. Tama na…
(It’s not just too much anymore, it’s way, way too much. So, what now?
Liza and BBM, there is no reason for you to stay in power. You do not own the Philippines. Enough is enough…).”
The post also carried a caption that reads:
“Ang Pilipinas ay hindi pag-aari ng isang pamilya, partido, o sinumang nakaupo sa kapangyarihan. Ito ay tahanan at kinabukasan ng bawat Pilipino.
Kung may mga lider na nawawalan ng tiwala ng mamamayan, karapatan nating manawagan ng katapatan, transparency, pananagutan, at mabuting pamamahala. Ang tunay na lider ay hindi dapat kumapit sa kapangyarihan para sa pansariling interes, kundi magsilbi nang buong puso sa bayan.
Hindi galit ang kailangan ng Pilipinas—kundi katotohanan, hustisya, pagkakaisa, at tapang na manindigan para sa tama.
Ang kapangyarihan ay pansamantala; ang bayan ang permanente. ❤️
(The Philippines does not belong to one family, one political party, or anyone currently in power. It is the home and future of every Filipino.
If there are leaders who have lost the trust of the people, we have the right to demand honesty, transparency, accountability, and good governance. A true leader should not cling to power for personal interest, but should serve the nation wholeheartedly.
What the Philippines needs is not anger—but truth, justice, unity, and the courage to stand up for what is right.
Power is temporary; the nation is permanent. )”
A similar post was published on Sept. 6 and 7, bearing the same caption and graphic card.
Contrary to what the post is implying, there are no records of Poquiz making this statement. The phrase “Sobra na, tama na!” was in the Jan. 6 Facebook post of Army Col. Audie A. Mongao, as he withdrew his “personal support” for the president and was subsequently put on floating status.
Part of his post read:
“Sobra na, tama na! The Filipino people are worth fighting for.”
The fake posts surfaced amid renewed attention to Vice President Sara Duterte’s statements involving the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sept. 7.
Posted by two Facebook users, the posts have so far collectively garnered 4,621 reactions, 1,106 comments, and 996 shares.
