The Manila Times
LAW enforcement agencies should go after the “purveyors of fake news” who claimed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was seriously ill, Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon said on Sunday. “President Marcos is so physically healthy. It is a wholesale lie to say that he was seriously ill and confined at a hospital last April 9 during the 84th Araw ng Kagitingan event at Mt. Samat in Bataan,” said Gadon in a Viber interview with The Manila Times. Gadon said he was at the Mt. Samat event and saw for himself how the president walked up to the monument. Social media had been abuzz with claims about the president being sick. “Our law enforcement agencies must not let these things pass without conducting an extensive investigation to identify and arrest those behind [false claims] and file cases against them,” Gadon said. He said those who spread the fake news did not even notice the backdrop, which read “84th Araw ng Kagitingan.” “If the event was last year’s commemoration, the backdrop should be showing an 83rd Araw ng Kagitingan,” he said. But what he could not easily accept was such bogus news “spread by DDS (Diehard Duterte Supporters) bloggers” that the president was suffering from Stage 4 cancer and that he needed to be rushed to a Quezon City hospital. Amid rumors of his supposed failing health, Marcos Jr. on Sunday shared photos of his rare night out with first lady Liza Marcos. The photos on Facebook showed the couple dining at Finestra Restaurant at Solaire Resort Entertainment City in Parañaque City. “Took Liza out for a quiet dinner, just a bit of time away from the day. Along the way, we met a mother and daughter who came over for a quick hello and a short chat. Nice reminder of why the work we do matters,” the president said. The first lady also shared similar photos and a video on her social media accounts. Speculations about the president’s health have been floating since he was diagnosed with diverticulitis in January. Some vloggers and critics of the administration have claimed that Marcos has fallen terminally ill due to pancreatic cancer. This has been debunked several times by Malacañang. The president himself reassured the public that he is well and “has no restrictions” when it comes to his activities and diet. The Presidential Communications Office last week said it will seek the assistance of the Department of Justice in tracking down the sources of unverified reports. The Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) on Sunday belied claims by critics of the administration that it is being given special favors in exchange for publishing and broadcasting only favorable news about Marcos. In a statement, the MPC rejected allegations that reporters covering the Palace are on a “payroll” to ensure reportage that is favorable to Marcos, particularly the concealment of his medical condition. “We are fully aware that the health of the President is an important aspect of our national security. Previous news reports and videos of press briefings clearly show how our members quizzed our government officials with regard to the President’s condition,” it said. “The MPC stands by the truthfulness of the reports released by its members,” it added. The group urged the public to be more discerning about what they read or watch online, saying that the news Palace reporters put out “are not done by content creators whose only assets are their social media accounts, wild imaginations, and questionable agendas.” “It is easy to make accusations. It is easy to invent stories. It is easy to spread baseless rumors. A responsible journalist will not engage in these acts. It is disheartening that there are people who still fall for the deception of those who willfully poison the minds of our countrymen, whom we try to serve with the best of our ability,” it said. “Despite the mudslinging noise, we will continue to ask questions, we will continue to be vigilant, and we will continue to report fairly about the measures and policies of the President of the Republic of the Philippines. While many choose to believe the lies they want to believe in, we will continue to stand for truth and for the interest of the nation, whoever is in power in Malacañang,” it added.
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