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VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Sandro Marcos did NOT berate media during SONA interview

A Facebook video claims that Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos chastised reporters who were asking about President Ferdinand Marcos’ SONA speech. Not true.

By VERA Files

Jul 26, 2023

2-minute read
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A video on Facebook (FB) is erroneously claiming that Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos chastised reporters who were asking about the possible contents of President Ferdinand Marcos’ State of the Nation Address (SONA) speech. This is not true.

On July 24, the day of the SONA, an FB page published a video that bore the untrue headline:

“CONG.SANDRO PINAHIYA ANG MEDIA SA PANGUNGULIT TUNGKOL SA SONA NI PBBM (Cong. Sandro humiliated the media who are bothering him about the SONA of PBBM)!”

At the beginning of the seven-minute clip, a narrator repeated the false claim and showed as evidence mirrored footage of Marcos’ ambush interview with the media earlier that day.

Marcos never admonished the media. In the original video published by ABS-CBN News hours before the SONA officially started, the president’s eldest son answered questions while smiling and laughing.

Marcos said his father wrote the address himself but kept mum on its contents to avoid pre-empting the president. He was also asked whether his grandmother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, would attend the state event and bashfully admitted that he did not know.

This erroneous video was published the same day Marcos delivered his second SONA where he boldly proclaimed that the current state of the country is “sound and improving,” sharing his administration’s current and future plans.

(Read related story: Marcos brags ‘improving’ state of the nation, avoids ICC, human rights concerns)

FB page Philippines New (created on Nov. 28, 2019) published the video, garnering over 2,800 reactions, 320 comments, 160 shares and 53,000 views.

 

Have you seen any dubious claims, photos, memes, or online posts that you want us to verify? Fill out this reader request form or send it to VERA, the truth bot on Viber.

(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)

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