FALSE: Bongbong Marcos is lone ‘presidentiable’ with local, lawmaking experience

At a glance

• Claim: Former senator Bongbong Marcos is the only “presidentiable” for the May 2022 elections with experience in both local government and and the legislature. 
• Rating: FALSE
• The facts: From the list of possible presidential candidates in Pulse Asia’s June 2021 nationwide survey on the May 2022 elections, there are at least two other politicians who have held local executive and local or national legislative positions: Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Richard Gordon.
• Why we fact-checked this: The claim was seen in posts on August 24 on the Facebook pages “President Bongbong Marcos 2022” and “Bongbong Marcos-Sara Duterte 2022,” with about 4,100 reactions, 473 comments, and 191 shares combined, as of writing. 

Complete details

Facebook posts on Tuesday, August 24, circulated the claim that, aside from former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., there are no other “presidentiables” or likely candidates for president for the May 2022 elections who have experience both as local executives and as legislators.

The elective positions that Marcos held are also cited in the posts: Ilocos Norte vice governor from 1981 to 1983, governor of Ilocos Norte from 1983 to 1986 and from 1998 to 2007, representative of the 2nd district of Ilocos Norte from 1992 to 1995 and from 2007 to 2010, and senator from 2010 to 2016.

Pages where the claim can be seen include “Bongbong Marcos-Sara Duterte 2022” and “President Bongbong Marcos 2022.” As of writing, the posts on these pages have about 4,100 reactions, 473 comments, and 191 shares combined. They were first posted on August 24.

Also, the post from “President Bongbong Marcos 2022” was a share of an August 24 post from the account of Benjie Daisy Contreras, which itself has 462 reactions, 27 comments, and 215 shares, as of writing. 

The claim is false.

From the list of possible presidential candidates in Pulse Asia’s June 2021 nationwide survey on the May 2022 elections (their latest such survey), there are at least two other politicians who have held both local executive and legislative positions.

One is Francisco Domagoso, popularly known as Isko Moreno, who is the current Manila mayor, a local executive position. He was elected in the May 2019 elections. From 1998 to 2007, he was a councilor of the 1st district of Manila, a legislative position. Moreno also served from 2007 to 2016 as vice mayor of Manila. The vice mayor presides over the city council. (READ: Isko Moreno: From the slums of Tondo to Manila’s throne)

Another is Richard Gordon, who is currently a senator, a legislative position. He was elected in the May 2016 elections. He was also senator from 2004 to 2010. Gordon was also Olongapo City mayor, a local executive position, from 1980 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1993. 

As of writing, there are no official presidential candidates yet for the May 2022 elections. The filing of certificates of candidacy for elective positions will take place from October 1 to 8. 

Rappler has fact-checked the Facebook page “President Bongbong Marcos 2022” before for the claims that former president Ferdinand Marcos planned Skyway Stage 3 and that the Supreme Court said that all anti-Marcos textbooks were untrue.

Rappler has also fact-checked the Facebook page “Bongbong Marcos-Sara Duterte 2022” before for claims about fictitious provisions in the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) bill. – Percival Bueser/Rappler.com

Percival Bueser is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

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