A quote card where Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos allegedly said Filipinos who complain over “small matters” such as flight delays are “entitled” is spreading online. This is satire.
The quote card supposedly published by Sonshine Media Network Inc. (SMNI) News made the rounds on social media starting Jan. 7. Marcos was quoted saying:
“Filipinos love to complain even about small matters. Just because your flight is delayed for one day makes you feel entitled to blame it on the government. If you hate having your flights delayed, take the bus or a boat or ferry. Let us be STRONG in understanding and WEAK in blaming the government.”
Marcos and SMNI News have both disowned the circulating quote card. The graphic is also published by a so-called “Satire Media Network International,” which spoofs SMNI News.
In a Jan. 9 Instagram story, Marcos branded the graphic “fake news” and laughed it off. “Keep trying, guys,” he said.
Marcos has been a target of several fake quote cards debunked by VERA Files Fact Check. (Read FAKE Sandro Marcos quote on use of onions still circulating online and Sandro Marcos DID NOT say arrest of Remulla son is ‘unlawful’)
SMNI News disowned the satirical graphic in a Jan. 9 tweet, warning legal action against any who misrepresent the name of their organization.
WARNING!
— SMNI News (@smninews) January 8, 2023
SMNI strongly disowns this fake quote card circulating in social media. We assure the public that SMNI will only deliver ‘Truth That Matters’. pic.twitter.com/kvW4BrOaKS
The satire emerged a week after a supposed power outage on New Year’s day crippled the air traffic navigation system at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, resulting in flight cancellations and delays affecting thousands of passengers.
At least 22 Facebook groups and pages have shared the satire quote card, according to social media monitoring tool CrowdTangle. A copy of it posted on Twitter garnered over 129,000 views and 1,850 interactions.
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