THE OXFORD Philippines Society has expressed concern over the continuing misinformation relating to the academic qualifications of the only son and namesake of the late Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
It has issued a statement saying Marcos, who is also known as ‘Bongbong’ and ‘BBM’ in the Philippines did not finish his Degree and this was officially confirmed by the University of Oxford in England in 2015.
The statement, it said, is to set out the facts concerning Bongbong Marcos’ claims about his tenure at Oxford University. Marcos has said he graduated from the University of Oxford.
The Oxford Philippines Society said Marcos matriculated at the University of Oxford in 1975 to read for a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (the “Degree”).
Matriculation is a formal ceremony marking a student’s admission to the University of Oxford. This is a requirement that all students need to undergo at the beginning of the course.
It said Marcos failed his Degree’s preliminary examinations at the first attempt. Passing the preliminary examinations is a pre-requisite for continuing one’s studies and completing a degree at Oxford University. Preliminary examinations are taken in the first half of a degree course, usually in a student’s first year of studies.
But Marcos, who is running for president in next year’s polls, has been awarded with a Special Diploma in Social Studies in 1978. A Special Diploma is not a degree, and neither is it comparable, superior nor equivalent to one. A Special Diploma is not a course of higher education leading to an undergraduate or first degree or even a master’s degree.
“We would like to emphasise that this statement is not a political statement. We are making this statement in aid of public discourse in a time where disinformation and fake news are prevalent. Such disinformation prevents Filipinos from exercising their democratic rights in a fair and meaningful way, and we believe every Filipino should have access to correct information as we prepare to vote in May 2022,” said the Oxford Philippines Society.
The Oxford Philippines Society, together with its former members, is made up of almost 200 Filipino students and alumni of Oxford University. The Oxford Philippines Society is the only Filipino society registered with, and recognised by, Oxford University.
ABS-CBN in a report said lawyer Vic Rodriguez, Marcos’ chief-of-staff, has challenged people to disprove Oxford's “degree confirmation” to him. “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,” the report quoted Rodriguez as saying.
Rodriguez said Marcos has been honest about his special diploma from the University of Oxford. “He has always been forthright on his conferment of a special diploma in social studies by the distinguished university and has never misrepresented his Oxford education,” he said.
But in an interview with dzMM in 2016, Marcos said that after questions were raised on his academic background in 2015, he flew to England and personally went to the University of Oxford where he received a certificate confirming his degree.
However, the University of Oxford said Marcos was awarded a special diploma in Social Studies. “We can confirm that a Ferdinand Marcos matriculated at the University of Oxford in 1975 to read for a BA in Philosophy, Philosophy and Economics. According to our records, he did not complete his degree, but was awarded a special diploma in Social Studies in 1978,” it said.
According to ABS-CBN report, Marcos is not the only sibling, whose academic record has been questioned, adding in 2019, the University of the Philippines also issued a statement to say that then Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos - at the time running for a Senate seat which she eventually won - did not finish a degree from the state university.
The 64-year old Marcos, who served as governor, congressman, and senator topped recent presidential surveys and is popular in many parts of the country. His father ruled as a dictator under martial law from 1972 until 1981 and kept most of his martial law powers until he was deposed in 1986. (Mindanao Examiner)
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