Robredo camp says OK not to get degree from prestigious school but don't lie

Vice President Leni Robredo's camp on Sunday said failing to finish a certain educational degree from a prestigious school is not a loss but lying to the people about someone's academic attainment is a problem.

In Robredo's weekly radio program, Office of the Vice President spokesman Attorney Barry Gutierrez stressed the vice president's educational attainment, adding that she is more than an "extraordinary housewife" which was labeled by Senator Imee Marcos. 

Gutierrez then pointed out that not finishing a degree does not lower a person's status but faking a degree from their school is an issue.

This statement came on the heels of the statement issued by Oxford University that it did not award a degree to former senator Bongbong Marcos, Imee's brother and son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. 

"Tama, hindi kabawasan 'yun pero huwag ka naman magsinungaling. Ang punto ay 'yung nag-iimbento ka pa e. Nagsisinungaling ka pa e. Ibig sabihin, para sa kanya issue ang dapat graduate ako," Gutierrez said.

(It's not a loss but don't you lie about it. The point here is you are making up stories. You are lying. For him, the issue is that he should graduate.)

"Para mapabilib mo ang tao, gawin mo 'yung totoong trabaho. Gawin mo ang actual na kailangang gawin para ito ay talagang puwede mong i-claim na sa 'yo," he further pointed out.

(To make people believe in you, do your real job. Do your actual job so you can claim that you did this.)

Robredo had a degree from University of the Philippines School of Economics and a law degree from University of Nueva Caceres.

The camp of Bongbong Marcos maintained that the former senator obtained a degree from the University of Oxford.

“We stand by the degree confirmation which was issued by the University of Oxford. It is up to anyone to question or challenge this with the said university if they so please,” Marcos’ chief of staff Atty. Victor Rodriguez said in a statement.

Both VP Leni Robredo and Bongbong Marcos are presidential aspirants in Eleksyon 2022.

Meanwhile, Gutierrez again addressed the label of "extraordinary housewife" on Robredo, adding that the Vice President is also an "extraordinary lawyer" and an "extraordinary legislator."

"Hindi naman mali kasi sa totoo lang extraordinary housewife naman talaga si VP Leni. Kasi una parang nakakaano lang parang mali na housewife lang, parang minamaliit e," he said.

(It's not wrong because she really is an extraordinary housewife. But if you call her just that, it shows that you are belittling her.) —KG, GMA News