Palace press refutes cover-up claims

PALACE reporters pushed back against allegations that its members were being used or paid to conceal President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s health condition.

In a statement on Sunday, the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) said coverage in recent days was grounded on verified information, direct questioning of officials and firsthand observation.

“We recognize that the President’s health is a critical aspect of national security,” the MPC said in Filipino. “Past reports and press briefing videos clearly show how our members have questioned government officials about the President’s condition.”

“This is not what content creators do when their only capital is a social media account, a vivid imagination, and a questionable agenda,” it added.

The statement comes as some social media content creators said the recent photos of Mr. Marcos during the Day of Valor last April 9 in Bataan were recycled from last year, questioning his health condition following a diverticulitis scare last January.

MPC, the group of journalists tasked with covering Mr. Marcos and Malacañang, said it would intensify efforts to counter misinformation, condemning what it described as attempts to undermine journalists’ credibility and mislead the public, while urging Filipinos to scrutinize the sources of information circulating on social media.

Despite the accusations, the group said it will remain focused on delivering fair and accurate reporting on the policies and actions of the Philippine president, vowing to “stand by the truth” regardless of who sits in Malacañang.

The Presidential Communications Office earlier said it noticed a surge of false information online in recent weeks, targeting Mr. Marcos’ health and the government’s response to the Iran war. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana