A nearly three-year-old Facebook post against the Aquino family is being revived online, making allegations that are either erroneous, baseless or which need context.
Originally published on Jan. 9, 2019, the post stated that:
- former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. sold Sabah;
- former President Corazon Aquino sold the Philippine Airlines;
- their son, former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, sold the Scarborough Shoal; and
- their youngest daughter, celebrity Kris Aquino, stole jewelry from former first lady Imelda Marcos.
We fact-checked each claim below.
On Ninoy Aquino ‘selling’ Sabah
This claim is unproven. Hermes Dorado, former national territory division head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, claimed in 2013 that Aquino met with then-Malaysian Prime Minister Mohammad Mahathir.
In the supposed meeting, which allegedly took place before Aquino returned to the Philippines from self-exile in the United States, the former senator told Mahathir that he would drop the Philippines’ claim on Sabah once in power, in exchange for Malaysia’s support to oust Marcos. Aquino was assassinated on his return on Aug. 21, 1983.
Dorado said he indirectly confirmed this piece of information from former ambassador and retired general Rafael Ileto. This claim could not be verified by documents or other accounts.
Read the full story on VERA Files Fact Check.
