Padilla camp: Viral ‘summons’ to Sandro Marcos is fake news

Following the circulation of an online art card claiming that Senator Robinhood Padilla had “summoned” Ilocos Norte Representative and presidential son Sandro Marcos to the Senate for questioning, the lawmaker’s camp denied the claim and dismissed it as misinformation.

“The posts circulating online are not true — they are simply another piece of fake news,” said Atty. Rudolph Philip Jurado, the chief of staff of Senator Padilla, in a Viber message.

Jurado clarified that Padilla’s Senate committees — Public Information and Mass Media, and Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs — are not connected to the issues involving the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) or the Blue Ribbon Committee, “as these matters are not within their jurisdiction.”

Padilla is a known ally and supporter of the Duterte Family, particularly former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte.

“As such, Senator Padilla does not want to pre-empt any action or decision of the ICI or the Blue-Ribbon Committee. The Office also clarifies that it does not have the authority, in aid of legislation, to subpoena or summon any individual regarding issues outside the mandate of Senator Padilla's committees,” Jurado said.

He urged the public to exercise caution when consuming online information. “We urge the public to verify information through official and credible sources to avoid being misled by fabricated or distorted claims,” he added.

The art card surfaced following a video clip released by resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, linking Rep. Marcos to the budget insertion mess for the 2025 National Budget.

Rep. Marcos has already informed the ICI that he intends to cooperate with the investigation on alleged anomalous flood control projects.

“I extend my full respect to the work of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure and its efforts to uncover the truth behind the ongoing investigation on flood control projects,” his letter addressed to ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes Jr., dated 26 November, read.