The Supreme Court has summoned Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo to attend oral arguments on a petition challenging the constitutionality of the 2025 national budget originally set for April 1, not because she allegedly stole billions of pesos from it.
A Facebook reel posted on March 14 by @MarikinaTrending, however, falsely claimed that Quimbo, who chairs the House committee on appropriations and a mayoral candidate in Marikina this May, was under investigation by the high tribunal for corruption.
The reel displayed the overlaid text:
POLITICS – BILYONG PISONG NINAKAW NI STELLA SA 2025 BUDGET, IIMBESTIGAHAN NG KORTE SUPREMA (Billion pesos stolen by Stella in 2025 budget, to be investigated by the Supreme Court)
The Supreme Court on Feb. 18 scheduled the oral arguments for April 1 on the petition filed by a group led by former executive secretary and senatorial candidate Vic Rodriguez questioning the constitutionality of Republic Act 12116, the 2025 General Appropriations Act.
During a preliminary conference on March 5, the high court ordered Quimbo and other members of the congressional technical working group to attend the oral arguments, according to a statement from Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra and a Facebook post by Rodriguez.
Marikina Trending, a self-described entertainment account, has amassed an estimated 23,000 likes and 64,000 followers since it was created last Sept. 3. Its Facebook reel on Quimbo has garnered 553 likes, 149 comments and 104 shares as of April 1.
Read the full story on FactRakers.org.