PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remained focused on addressing the country’s energy crisis, Malacañang said Thursday, amid a “sudden and coordinated surge” of disinformation on social media targeting the president’s health.
Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said the spread of false claims has intensified in recent days, with even some traditional media outlets allegedly affected by the misinformation.
“The timing is suspect. Why the sudden surge at this time? Why resort to outright lies? Why the desperation? Regardless, the motive is clear. Distract and destabilize our government,” Gomez said in a statement.
Gomez said Marcos was prioritizing measures to mitigate the impact of rising energy costs on Filipino households and the broader economy.
“We are in a state of energy emergency. The president will not be distracted by this noise,” he said.
“The president remains laser-focused on one mission: solving our energy emergency and delivering real, tangible help to every Filipino family, improving their lives and strengthening our economy,” he said.
Gomez said the Presidential Communications Office was constantly monitoring and documenting online content related to the alleged disinformation campaign, including posts and comments, which it said would be used as evidence in potential court cases.
“We will identify the perpetrators, trace their networks, and file the proper charges in court once the evidence is complete, hopefully by next week,” he said.
On Wednesday, Marcos shrugged off claims about his health, saying he has been back to his “normal routine” for months now since recovering from diverticulitis in January.
“I have no health problem. I’m back to my regular exercise. I’ve been back to my regular routine for the last three months,” Marcos said during an interview with Malacañang Press Officer Claire Castro.
