By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
Malacañang has dismissed as “fake news” an alleged directive from Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin to ramp up the government’s efforts to gain public trust and approval.
This, after an alleged memorandum dated April 15 and supposedly inked by Bersamin underscored the need for the government’s communications team “to redouble their efforts over the next month, to undo the damage done by the critics against the Malacañang.”
Based on the fake memorandum, the actions of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s critics “have severely undermined the strong position we have built over more than a year.”
“It’s a fake news. It’s fake so huwag niyo nang pagkaabalahan iyan (don’t mind that),” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told Palace reporters.
“So, huwag po tayong basta-basta maniniwala sa mga fake document, sa mga dokimentong nagkakalat-kalat. Tandaan natin, uso ngayon ang fake news (let’s not just believe in fake documents, in documents that are being spread around. Let’s remember, fake news is a trend now,” she added.
In a separate statement, Bersamin said the “spurious” memorandum is a “blatant attempt” to spread disinformation and sow division in the ranks of the administration candidates.
“The Office of the Executive Secretary categorically denies the authenticity of said memorandum,” he said. “It should be dismissed as the handiwork of malicious minds.”
The fake memorandum, which circulated on social media, was allegedly released following the “sharp drop” in Marcos’ approval and trust ratings after the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
It also cited the Laylo survey allegedly presented to Marcos and other government officials, including Bersamin and Castro, in a meeting on April 8.
The fake memorandum also emphasized the need to focus “media actions” in Visayas, known bailiwick of Duterte, by carrying out “intensive and positive propaganda for the government on multimedia platforms.”
In a media interview in Silang, Cavite on Tuesday, Marcos expressed elation over the results of OCTA Research’s latest Tugon ng Masa survey, which showed the Filipinos’ continued trust and support for him.
Marcos said the poll results show that “people are beginning to understand” the actions made by his administration since he assumed office in 2022. (PNA)
