MANILA — The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) of the Philippines has addressed a misinformation campaign that inaccurately portrayed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as receiving illicit drugs at a public event. The controversy stemmed from a viral, blurred video which was later debunked by the PCO. A clearer video provided by the office showed that the president was actually given a lapel pin, not drugs.
According to Philippines News Agency, the PCO’s fact-check initiative, ‘Maging Mapanuri’, released a video on Facebook dispelling claims that President Marcos received drugs. The footage clarified that the item exchanged was a lapel pin featuring the symbol of the president’s political party. This incident highlights the misuse of video content to fabricate false narratives, exploiting out-of-context imagery to mislead the public.
The PCO pointed out the dangers of sharing images and videos without proper context, noting that such practices can easily deceive the public. They emphasized that the ease of altering perceptions through digital manipulation poses significant challenges in maintaining informational integrity. In response to the incident, the PCO also shared details about Ferdinand Arthur Tupaz, the individual who handed the lapel pin to President Marcos. Tupaz, the owner of El Oro Medallic Engraver Corp, had previously designed and manufactured the official commemorative medallion for Marcos’s inauguration as the 17th President of the Philippines.
Further illustrating the PCO’s commitment to combating fake news, the office has encouraged the public to engage in diligent research to uncover the truth and to critically assess the information they consume online. This initiative is part of a broader effort to educate the public on the impacts of misinformation and the importance of context in interpreting news.
The story of the misrepresented video follows a prior incident involving a deepfake video of President Marcos allegedly using illegal drugs, which also gained significant traction on social media. The PCO’s ongoing battle against fake news underscores the critical need for vigilance and informed analysis among netizens.