Palace press groups push back vs credibility attacks
While authorities crack down on purveyors of fake news, mainstream media outlets, especially journalists covering the Palace, have pushed back against what the government described as a “sudden and coordinated” attack on their credibility by online trolls.
The Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) on Sunday strongly rejected allegations that its members received large sums of money to cover up the true state of President Marcos’ health.
“The MPC stands by the accuracy of the reports released by our members over the past week. We also condemn blatant attempts to undermine the credibility of journalists and mislead the public in order to advance the interests of a few,” the group said.
Established in the 1960s, the MPC is composed of local media outlets, including the Inquirer, that are accredited by the government through the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to report on the President and occurrences at Malacañang.
In a statement, the group cited how MPC members persistently questioned government officials, particularly Palace press officer Claire Castro, about the President’s health in press briefings last week.
Section 12 of Article VII of the 1987 Constitution states that the public must be informed about the President’s condition in case of a serious illness.
“These painstaking efforts are not being undertaken by content creators, whose only qualifications are their possession of social media accounts, their fertile imagination and their pursuit of a questionable agenda,” the MPC said.
Appeal to public
The group urged the public to remain discerning amid the barrage of disinformation and misinformation on social media and to carefully examine the sources of information.
“Despite efforts to discredit journalists, 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,” the MPC said.
“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.
Two other Malacañang-based organizations, the Malacañang Cameramen Association and the Presidential Photojournalists Association, had also released separate statements condemning a disinformation campaign launched by supporters of the Duterte family against members of mainstream media.
Duterte supporters had said the photos and videos published by official government channels and some media outlets showing Mr. Marcos at this year’s Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) commemoration in Bataan province on April 9 were “throwback” material taken in 2025 or 2024. They claimed the President was too sick to attend and journalists were conniving with the administration to conceal his true condition.
Badoy’s claim
Lorraine Badoy, a PCO undersecretary under former President Rodrigo Duterte, specifically accused members of the Palace-based media groups of receiving “hush money” from the government.
Without any evidence, she claimed that MPC members each received P50,000 from first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
The PCO earlier said its Anti-Fake News Desk detected a “sudden and coordinated surge” in disinformation about the President’s health across social media platforms last week.
“Even respected traditional media outlets have fallen victim to this vicious attack of the trolls,” PCO Secretary Dave Gomez said, adding that these were meant to “distract and destabilize” the government.
He warned perpetrators that authorities would trace their networks and pursue cyberlibel charges against them.
The fake news surge also prompted the government on Friday to order social media giant Meta to “strengthen safeguards and response mechanisms” against disinformation involving matters of national interest and security.
In a letter addressed to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Gomez and Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda required Meta to take immediate action to stop the spread of fake news on its platforms or face possible legal action.
Meta operates different social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads.
Malacañang and even President Marcos himself have denied rumors that he is ill after he was admitted to St. Luke’s Medical Center in January for diverticulitis and missed several public events.
After his visit to the hospital, his supposed medical record was leaked online but St. Luke’s said the document was “fake and falsified.”
In February, the National Bureau of Investigation filed separate cyberlibel complaints against former broadcaster Jay Sonza, vloggers Jeffrey Luces Celiz or “Ka Eric Celiz” and Jack Argota for allegedly spreading the fake medical record. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
