MANILA, Philippines – Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said a candidate is committing fraud when he or she lies about her educational attainment.

“That’s fraud,” Panelo said in a palace briefing a day after presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte – Carpio said that honesty should not be an election issue because “everybody lies.”

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So what happens to a person who committed fraud?

“Oh eh ‘di matatanggal siya sa trabaho, o hindi siya ma-a-appoint, o hindi siya mahahalal,” Panelo said.

(He or she will be fired from work, cannot be appointed, or elected.)

The Palace official’s statement came as senatorial candidate Imee Marcos, who is endorsed by Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago party, is facing criticisms for allegedly lying about her educational attainment.

Marcos claimed that she graduated from Princeton University and the University of the Philippines, which was denied by both schools.

Panelo earlier said Duterte-Carpio was entitled to her own opinion when he said that honesty should not be an election issue. / gsg

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