Quimbo called to oral arguments over 2025 budget, not theft allegations

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)

It also bore the caption:

Madam Chair Stella Quimbo, ipinapatawag ng Korte Suprema para humarap sa Oral Argument tungkol sa katiwaliang naganap sa 2025 Budget Deliberation (Madam Chair Stella Quimbo summoned by the Supreme Court to present oral arguments regarding corruption in the 2025 budget deliberation). #MarikinaTrending

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.

During its special session on March 18, the Supreme Court rescheduled the oral arguments to May 19.

To date, Quimbo has not issued any statement on the Supreme Court’s order. 

PhilStar.com previously fact-checked a fabricated quote card that said Quimbo had already commented on the high court’s oral arguments order. Quimbo told the news outlet that she had not issued any statement on the matter.

VERA Files also debunked fake quotes attributed to Quimbo, including those related to Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial and her alleged call to padlock Iglesia Ni Cristo churches in Marikina following former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest.

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. (JPC)