Ivy League stint not a requirement for prexy bid but 'lying is different,' Isko says amid Bongbong issue

Filipinos don't need an Ivy League education to run for president but lying about one's educational attainment is "different," Manila mayor and presidential aspirant Isko Moreno said Thursday.

"Hindi kelangan kaming nakapag-aral sa mga Ivy League [o] kung ano man, basta sinabi lang 40 anyos, [can] read and write, and Filipino [citizen],” Moreno said, citing the law.

(We don't need education from Ivy League or anything, as long as we're 40 years old and above, can read and write, and a Filipino citizen.)

“But for now we just follow it (the law), I have nothing against that. It is up to them [if they want to amend it]. But lying is different,” he added.

Moreno made the remark amid Oxford University's statement that seems to contradict former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s camp's claim that the erstwhile lawmaker had obtained a degree from the prestigious university.

“We can confirm that a Ferdinand Marcos matriculated at the University of Oxford in 1975 to read for a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. According to our records, he did not complete his degree, but was awarded a Special Diploma in Social Studies in 1978,” Oxford University said in an email to GMA News Online on Wednesday.

The Oxford Philippines Society earlier claimed that Marcos, who is also running for president in the 2022 elections, has no degree from the university.

The group of Filipino students and alumni of the university issued the statement as it expressed concern over what it called "continuing misinformation" regarding Marcos' academic background.

Under the 1987 Constitution, any person may be elected as president if he or she is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least 40 years old on the day of the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years immediately preceding such election. —KBK, GMA News