FACT CHECK: Quote card of CDO congressman Suan on gas prices is fake

Claim: Cagayan de Oro 1st District Representative Lordan Suan released a statement saying that as long as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is in office, there is nothing to worry about rising fuel prices.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim, made by Birada Kagay-an on Facebook, has gained over 4,300 reactions, 1,700 comments, and 200 shares. This Facebook page, claiming to be a broadcasting and media production company in their profile, has also been flagged by multiple fact-checking bodies before, including Rappler and Vera Files for posting false claims about Suan.

The quote with Suan’s photo in the background reads, “Mga pinalangga ko nga taga District 1, samtang si PBBM ang atong Presidente dili ta angay mabalaka sa pagtaas presyo sa gasolina.”

(My beloved people of District 1, while PBBM is our President, we should not worry about the increase in the price of gasoline.)

In the caption, they featured a so-called headline that reads, “HEADLINE: Suporta gihapon kang PBBM bisan nagtaas ang gasolina.” (Still supporting President Marcos despite the rising fuel prices.)

This specific quote card surfaces amid ongoing public concern over the volatility of global oil prices and its impact on local pump prices, triggered by the war in the Middle East.

The facts: Suan never made this statement. Rappler confirmed with his office that the congressman did not issue this remark in any form, context, or official communication.

In a clarification, Suan’s team debunked the viral statement: “We would like to firmly clarify that this is likewise not a statement made by Cong. Suan in any form or context.”

They denied the post, adding that, “The Office categorically denies the authenticity of the said post. The statements being circulated are entirely fabricated and have no basis in any official communication, speech, or position of Cong.”

On March 10, Suan cautioned the public against the “Birada Kagay-an” page, saying it was publishing baseless content designed specifically for online disinformation. 

He encouraged his constituents to be vigilant by verifying information, reporting deceptive pages, and sticking to official government sources and verified news organizations for reliable updates.

Pattern of disinformation: Suan has been a frequent target of “quote card” disinformation, particularly following his vote to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte in February 2025.

The team of the Cagayan de Oro lawmaker noted that the Facebook page responsible for this post has a track record of circulating similar false claims. Suan’s office emphasized that these repeated actions “strongly suggest a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, damage the reputation of Cong. [Suan], and misuse his name for misinformation purposes.”

Earlier this month, Rappler also debunked a quote card from the same page which claimed Suan called OFWs “fake heroes” for participating in a “zero remittance week.”

This incident was preceded by another fabricated statement attributed to the congressman on March 10, which falsely depicted him attacking OFWs for allegedly lacking “utang na loob” (debt of gratitude) to President Marcos. In that instance, Suan explicitly labeled the content as “manipulated content created to spread fake news.” – Princess Leah Sagaad/Rappler.com

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