A reader asked VERA Files Fact Check to verify an alleged memorandum from Malacañang stating that all government employees will get a salary deduction next month to bankroll the President’s aid fund for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. This is fake.
The fraudulent circular, which started to make the rounds on Feb. 18, copied the layout of official Palace documents and bore a counterfeit signature of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. It was titled “Two days salary deduction for the month March 2023 from all government employees for President Relief Fund for Turkey and Syria.”
The document contained several red flags:
- The circular had no number, nor did it have a publication date.
- It also stated that the “President’s Relief for Turkey Earthquake Victims” will be taken from the salaries of all workers under the “Federal Government” – this is factually incorrect as the Philippines is a unitary republic.
The Official Gazette and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) have denounced the document.
In a Feb. 19 Facebook (FB) post, the Official Gazette warned the public against the fake memo.
“The Office of The President and the Office of the Executive Secretary have never issued such ‘Memorandum Circular,’” said the country’s official journal.
In a separate FB post, PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil also disowned the circulating memorandum circular and cautioned people to be critical and careful of information spreading on social media.
The made-up memo emerged nearly two weeks after a devastating 7.8 magnitude killer earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, which claimed thousands of lives. The Philippine Embassy in Turkey has confirmed the death of a Filipino woman and her three children, reported missing since the earthquake hit.
Among the FB pages that published the fake memo was TICAONON Ticao,Masbate,Philippines (created on March 6, 2010). At least two FB netizens and one Twitter user has also posted the made-up memo.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
