Malacañang on Wednesday belied rumors that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is suffering from colon cancer following his previous bout with diverticulitis.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro also dismissed as false a photo presented by former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, which allegedly suggested that the President was using a colostomy bag.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, February 11, Castro rejected the allegations and described Roque as a “fake news peddler” for spreading what she called baseless claims during a public event.
“Ang masama eh kasi mga rumors, mga tsismis, walang katotohanan na nakakapaniira sa gobyerno, nakakapaninira sa Pangulo, na nakakaapekto sa ekonomiya,” Castro said.
She stressed that the accusation was a clear lie and merely a distraction, strongly defending the Chief Executive against what she described as misinformation.
“Kung manggagaling lamang po din kay Harry Roque na isang masasabi na nating isang ‘fake news peddle,” Castro added.
Roque earlier claimed that Marcos might have been relying on a colostomy bag — a plastic pouch attached to the abdomen to collect waste after colon-related surgery.
Castro, however, pointed to a video of the President at a public event, where he was seen raising his arms and waving to supporters, as proof that the allegation was unfounded.
“Nakita naman po natin ang video, yung kabuuan kung saan itinaas pa po mismo ng Pangulo ang kanyang mga kamay habang siya'y kumakaway sa ating mga kababayan at kitang-kita po na ang sinasabing larawan o ipinakitang larawan ni Harry Roque ay pawang kasinungalingan lamang,” she said.
“Huwag na po tayo maniwala at nakikiusap po tayo, huwag na po natin dalhin sa anumang usapan ang mga fake news peddlers katulad nila,” she reiterated.
Castro urged the public not to believe what she described as false information and appealed to Filipinos to refrain from amplifying such claims.
Malacañang has previously assured the public that Marcos is in good health, amid recurring speculation about his condition.
