FACT CHECK: Marcos is alive; post misuses old news report on hospitalization

Claim: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has died.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The video bearing the claim has already received 1.1 million views, 7,600 reactions, 1,700 comments, and 1,000 shares as of writing. It was posted on April 7, amid circulating rumors about the President’s health. 

The video shows a news report of TV5 Frontline Express’ Ruth Cabal saying, “Dinala po si Pangulong Bongbong Marcos sa isang ospital sa Quezon City kagabi. ‘Yan ay matapos umanong makaranas ng discomfort ang Pangulo.” 

(President Bongbong Marcos was taken to a hospital in Quezon City last night. That was after the President reportedly experienced discomfort)

The text on the video also reads, “Condolence Marcos family. Totoo pala yung sabi […] patay na si Marcos.”

(Condolences to the Marcos family. It turns out that the rumors are true, that Marcos is dead.)

While most of the comments raised doubt about the claim, others believed it, with one commenter saying Marcos’ demise was “karma” for his treatment of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The facts: Marcos is not dead. In fact, days after the claim was posted, the President physically appeared at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Dambana ng Kagitingan in Bataan on April 9, 2026, where he delivered his speech to commemorate the Day of Valor. 

The news clip used in the video was from January, when Marcos was hospitalized as a precautionary measure after experiencing discomfort. 

The President later clarified that he was diagnosed with diverticulitis, an “inflammation of irregular bulging pouches in the wall of the large intestine,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

“What happened was I apparently, and I now have diverticulitis. It’s a common complaint amongst apparently people who are heavily stressed and people are — I have to admit — growing old,” Marcos said. 

Marcos’ health: The misleading video circulated amid false rumors that Marcos was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer or that he had been suffering from severe illness. These claims have been debunked by the Palace. 

Marcos himself debunked the health rumors, challenging detractors to come exericse with him.

“I challenge anyone who are saying that I am sick, that they come and exercise with me. We will see who is stronger. You come to the gym with me. Tingnan natin kung sino mas malakas magbuhat ng weight (We’ll see who can lift more weights),” he said at an impromptu press conference with the media.

The President earlier reminded the public not to take social media seriously, dismissing concerns about his health. 

“Don’t take it too seriously, social media is a joke. Wala po tayong problema. (We have no problem). I’m back to my regular exercise, I’ve been back to my regular routine,” he said. 

Previous fact-checks: Rappler has previously debunked similar claims about Marcos’ health: 

• FACT CHECK: Post claiming Marcos has stage 4 colon cancer is fake 
• FACT CHECK: Marcos does not have cancer, says Palace 
• FACT CHECK: Photo of Marcos in hospital bed is AI-generated 
• FACT CHECK: Marcos did not say cocaine use led to diverticulitis diagnosis 
• FACT CHECK: No reports of Marcos suffering a heart attack 
• FACT CHECK: Circulating Marcos ‘medical report’ is fake 

– Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com 

Angelee Kaye Abelinde is a student journalist based in Naga City, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024. 

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