At a glance:

• Claim: Former Senator Bongbong Marcos is a graduate of Princeton University in New Jersey, United States.
• Rating: FALSE
• The facts: Princeton University is not included in Marcos’ resumé posted on the Senate website. He listed Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Oxford University. It was previously reported that he did not obtain his degrees in both institutions. 
• Why we fact-checked this: A reader emailed the post containing this claim for verification. It had over 1,300 engagements on Facebook as of writing.

Complete details:

Former broadcaster Jay Sonza falsely claimed in a post on February 26 that former senator Bongbong Marcos graduated from Princeton University in New Jersey in the US.

Sonza listed the “pro-admin” prospective candidates for the 2022 Philippine elections, including Marcos, his sister and incumbent Senator Imee, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, Senator Bong Go, Senator Manny Pacquiao, and Public Works Secretary Mark Villar.

Sonza said Marcos is a “Princeton University graduate, AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Special Forces training graduate, former Ilocos Norte vice governor, governor & congressman, former senator.”

This is false. Princeton University is not listed in Marcos’ resumé posted on the Senate website. Instead, he named Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Oxford University as schools where he obtained his master’s and undergraduate degrees, respectively.

However, it was previously reported that he did not obtain his degrees from both institutions. In an exclusive report in 2015, Rappler found out that although Marcos did enter Oxford University and Wharton School, he did not complete the programs he enrolled in – which is why their records do not show Marcos in their lists of graduates. Marcos, however, maintained that his educational records are “accurate.”

Oxford University confirmed that Marcos only got a “special diploma in social studies,” which is different from a bachelor’s degree. This is also now reflected in his resumé. (READ: Oxford University confirms Bongbong Marcos got only ‘special diploma’)

Sonza may have confused Marcos with his sister Imee, who also claims to be a graduate of Princeton University. But like her brother, Imee also did not obtain her supposed degree, according to the spokesperson of the Ivy League university.

Sonza, in his post, also said that Imee is a “Princeton University graduate and UP (University of the Philippines) Diliman law graduate, Kabataang Barangay founding chairman, former Ilocos Norte congressman & governor, incumbent senator.” The claim about Imee graduating from the UP College of Law had also been proven false already.

A reader emailed Sonza’s post to Rappler for verification. As of writing, it had over 1,100 reactions, 143 comments, and 61 shares. Sonza has posted other false information before, too. – Pauline Macaraeg/Rappler.com

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