Bongbong insists he got 'diploma' from Oxford, did not finish Wharton

MANILA - Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. stood by his statement last week that he got a diploma from the University of Oxford in England but never finished his master’s at the Wharton Business School, in response to an investigative story that raised questions about his academic background.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Marcos also said recent stories against him are political attacks because of his stance on a controversial bill creating a new autonomous region for Muslims in Mindanao

“I think sinagot ko na (I think I’ve already answered that),” Marcos said. “I got my diploma from Oxford. Hindi ako nagtapos sa Wharton because naging vice governor ako. Gano’n lang naman iyon (I did not finish in Wharton because I became vice governor. That’s just it).”

According to a report by Rappler, Marcos’s name does not appear in the records of both Oxford and Wharton, contrary to what is stated in his resume that he graduated from the two prestigious institutions.

In response, Marcos said he earned his diploma from Oxford’s St. Edmund Hall, but that he did not finish his MBA at Wharton because he had to return to the country to serve as vice governor of Ilocos Norte.

Asked by a reporter whether he earned a bachelor’s degree or a diploma from Oxford, Marcos replied, “I got a diploma. What do you get when you graduate? You get a diploma.”

The senator added that he never lied about his credentials.

Marcos said he believes his critical stance on the Bangsamoro issue may have been behind the “attack”.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate local government committee, suspended deliberations on the measure after a bloody encounter in Maguindanao involving a Muslim rebel group that claimed the lives of 44 elite cops. He said he will resume public hearings on the measure once the Senate, the police, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have released the findings of their separate probes into the incident.

“Siguro I am seen as a critic kaya siguro some people decided that kailangan din akong balikan (Maybe I am seen as a critic, that’s why some people decided to get back at me),” he said.

“Many other people have been talking about the same things I’ve been talking about. Ako lang ang inaatake (I’m the only one being attacked). I guess it’s political.”