PCO to launch website vs. fake news

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

FIGHTING FAKE NEWS. Representatives of the Presidential Communications Office and the country’s nine leading newspapers sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on March 4, 2026, to jointly combat “fake news” and disinformation across digital and social media platforms and protect the public from their harmful effects. The MOU seeks to strengthen cooperation against these threats and safeguard the public by fostering a culture of transparency, media literacy, fact-based reporting, and responsible information sharing. (Malacañang Press Corps/Pool photo)

MANILA – The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) will launch a website to counter the proliferation of fake news, Malacañang announced Friday, in the wake of the persistent rumors against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s health.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government will not allow fake news peddlers to further spread misinformation and disinformation aimed at discrediting Marcos and his administration.

Castro said the official date for the website launch is still being finalized.

“Gagawa po ang PCO ng isang website o isang platform kung saan niyo isusumbong ang fake news na nagkakalat. At iyan po ay hindi namin tutulugan at lahat po iyan ay dapat na sampahan ng kaso (The PCO will create a website or a platform where you can report the purveyors of fake news. And we will not tolerate that and all of that should be prosecuted),” she said.

Castro maintained that claims about Marcos’ worsening health condition are “fake news.”

She also dismissed rumors that Marcos’ attendance at the Day of Valor commemoration in Bataan was “AI-generated (artificial intelligence-generated).”

She called on the mainstream media and responsible social media users to combat “fake news” against Marcos, particularly regarding the real condition of his health.

Castro made the call as she slammed Vice President Sara Duterte’s “irresponsible” response to false claims about Marcos’ allegedly deteriorating health.

“Kayo po ba’y nag-iisip minsan kung bakit nga ba dumadami ang fake news ngayon? Meron bang pagkakataon, sinasadya ba? At alam naman natin ang fake news na naglalabasan (Do you ever wonder why fake news is increasing today? Is it by chance, is it intentional? And we know the fake news that is being released),” she said.

“Ito’y halos lahat, laban sa Pangulo at laban sa administrasyon na ito. Patungkol sa kalusugan. Wala daw ginagawa ang gobyerno, lalung-lalo na patungkol sa krisis sa Middle East. Iyan lahat ay kasinungalingan (It is all against the President and his administration. It is all about his health. They say the government is doing nothing, especially regarding the crisis in the Middle East. All of that is a lie).”

Despite the fake news hurled at the government, Castro said Marcos remains focused on serving the people.

Castro added that PCO acting Secretary Dave Gomez has already submitted evidence to the Department of Justice to hold accountable the individuals spreading false information about Marcos’ health on social media.

“Kung merong mga naninira, alam naman natin kung saang parte ito nanggagaling. At suportahan natin mismo ang gobyerno at labanan natin ang fake news (If there are those who are maligning [the government], we know where it is coming from. And let’s support the government and fight fake news),” she said.

The “fake news” posts against Marcos were flagged by the PCO Anti-Fake News Desk, set up after the launch of Oplan Kontra Fake News on March 4