Several Facebook users are claiming that Sen. Risa Hontiveros had said she would not hesitate to assume the position of acting president following the hospitalization of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was diagnosed with diverticulitis. This is fake.
There are no official public records to confirm that the Senate deputy majority leader made the remark circulating online, based on a cursory search of the entire bogus statement.
First published by an FB user on Jan. 25, the fabricated statement attributed to Hontiveros reads:
“KUNG MAY MANGYARI MANG MASAMA SA MAHAL NA PRESIDENTE, HINDI AKO MAG ATUBILI NA UMUPO BILANG ACTING PRESIDENT PARA PAMUNUAN ANG BANSA
(If anything bad happens to the beloved president, I will not hesitate to assume the position of acting president to lead the country).”
The quote card bears a photo of Hontiveros and a thumbnail of a YouTube video uploaded on Jan. 22, with a superimposed text that states:
“ANO ANG NANGYARI KAY PBBM? ANO ANG SAKIT NI PBBM? DINALA SA HOSPITAL
(What happened to PBBM? What is his illness? Taken to the hospital)!”
The counterfeit graphic surfaced three days after Malacañang disclosed on Jan. 22 that Marcos was hospitalized on the evening of Jan. 21 after experiencing “discomfort.”
In a Jan. 22 video message, the president confirmed he was diagnosed with diverticulitis, an “inflammation of irregular bulging pouches in the wall of the large intestine,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
A quick check on Hontiveros’ official FB page shows no such statement on becoming an acting president and no reputable news organization has reported on the claim either.
The photo of the lady senator used in the graphic was originally released by the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau on March 4, 2025. It was taken during a public hearing where Hontiveros urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel Alice Guo’s Philippine passport.
Line of succession to presidency
Under the 1987 Constitution, the line of presidential succession includes only the vice president, the Senate president and the House speaker. Section 8, Article VII specifically mandated that:
“In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the President, the Vice-President shall become the President to serve the unexpired term. In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of both the President and Vice-President, the President of the Senate or, in case of his inability, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall then act as President until the President or Vice-President shall have been elected and qualified.”
The Philippine Constitution further stated that if the acting president dies, is permanently disabled, or resigns, Congress must determine who will serve as president until the president or the vice president is elected and qualified.
Uploaded by three FB users from Jan. 25 to 27, the posts carrying the fictitious remark of Hontiveros have collectively garnered 15,657 reactions; 9,923 comments; and 319 shares as of writing.
