House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos rejected allegations that General Santos City received no government funding following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao, calling the claim “impossible” and urging the media to verify information before reporting.

Marcos clarified that there is no “zero budget” allocation for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), stressing that funds are always provided for affected areas, particularly during disasters.

“Parang kwento-kwento lang ‘yan. There's no such thing as zero MOOE. There's no such thing as zero budget either,” Marcos said.

Addressing reports that GenSan allegedly received no assistance funds such as AICS or MAIF, Marcos dismissed the claim and challenged its source.

“That’s impossible. Saan mo ‘yan narinig? Ipa-verify mo muna dapat,” he added, emphasizing the importance of verification in reporting.

He also questioned the credibility of the allegation, saying it lacked evidence and appeared to be based on hearsay.

“Hindi, sabi-sabi. Vinerify mo ba? Vinerify mo ba yes or no?” Marcos said during the exchange, urging journalists to confirm facts before publishing or asking questions.

Marcos stressed that journalists have a responsibility to ensure accuracy to prevent the spread of misinformation.

“As journalists, it’s also our responsibility to verify the information that comes to us before we ask those who are being interviewed,” he said.

The lawmaker also assured the public that assistance continues to be extended to earthquake-hit areas in General Santos and Sarangani, following directives from House Speaker Faustino Dy III for lawmakers in Mindanao to closely monitor affected communities.

He further reiterated that congressional support and funding for disaster response remain in place as recovery efforts continue in Region 12.