(UPDATE) MALACAÑANG condemned the latest allegations against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, saying that “immediate action is necessary” to address these false claims. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued the statement after vlogger Deen Chase accused the president and the first lady of using illegal drugs and publicized an explicit photo purportedly of Araneta-Marcos. “Rumors concerning President Marcos Jr. and FL Liza are being spread to harm their character and integrity,” Castro said in a statement. “In the absence of evidence, anyone may spread falsehoods to promote a politician or to troll for a fee,” she added. Castro commended those who expressed concern over the consequences of disinformation, saying that its proliferation also affected the country’s tourism and economy. “Immediate action is necessary to address these falsehoods, which will affect not only victims of fake news, but also our tourism and economy,” she said. Several civic and advocacy groups on Thursday denounced circulating online allegations Against the first lady, describing claims of drug use, sexual misconduct, and “sensitive” images as unfounded and lacking evidence. In a joint statement, Jose Antonio Goitia, chairman emeritus of the Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (Pader), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and the Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement (FDNY), said the claims were being amplified on blogs and social media without verification. “There are no records, no forensic findings, no sworn statements, and no cases filed before any authority,” Goitia said. “Placing an accusation inside an interview format does not make it credible,” he said. “Criticism must be anchored on facts and actions. What we are seeing here are accusations floated without proof and amplified for effect.” Goitia stressed that none of the materials referenced online, including alleged images attributed to the first lady, had been authenticated or examined by experts. He said the repeated circulation of such content relied on insinuation rather than substantiated evidence. He also described the focus on alleged sexual conduct as a form of gender-based attack, arguing that such claims were designed to inflict reputational harm that could persist even after being disproven. While acknowledging that public officials are subject to scrutiny, Goitia said inventing criminal or immoral conduct falls outside the bounds of protected speech. He warned that those who create, publish, or repost unverified accusations could face criminal and civil liability under libel and cyber libel laws. “Calling it an opinion or an interview does not remove accountability,” he said. “This is not about silencing voices,” he said. “It is about insisting on truth and responsibility in public discourse.”