Supposed proclamation on half-day work suspension is 'fake news' — Palace

Malacañang on Thursday issued an advisory informing the public that a supposed presidential proclamation declaring a half-day work suspension tomorrow is "fake news."

"The document circulating as Proclamation No. 427, declaring Friday, 22 December 2023, as a special (half-working) day throughout the Philippines under the signature of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., is false," read the advisory posted on the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines.

A copy of the fake proclamation made the rounds on social media. The document bears a purported signature approving the proclamation on behalf of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. It also indicates a document stamp to reflect that it is a certified copy.

However, the Palace advisory said, "This proclamation lacks official verification or recognition by the government."

"Please rely on official government sources for accurate information and refrain from disseminating unverified claims," it added.

The document cites the supposed need to implement a "special (half-working) day throughout the country" because of the expected heavy traffic amid the Holiday rush, and to provide Filipinos opportunities to travel early and reunite with their families and loved ones.

The Presidential Communication Office (PCO) issues announcements of holidays and work suspension, as approved by Malacañang, through official channels and on its social media accounts.

Taking responsibility

Presidential Assistant for Strategic Communications Cesar Chavez, who was appointed on Dec. 5 to his current post in the PCO, owned up to the incident.

"Apologies. I posted a content that was not first verified by me. For the confusion, the blame should be on me. I take full responsibility for this," Chavez said in a message to reporters and on a Facebook post.

Chavez posted the document on his Facebook account. This post has already been deleted.

In a subsequent interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Chavez said, "Fake news 'yung unang kumalat kung saan-saan at pati ako nakatanggap noon. Isa ako sa nag-post and immediately, I had to get [it taken] down."

(The information that first spread is fake news. Even I received it. I was one of those who posted it and immediately, I had to get it taken down.)

"I apologize for the confusion," Chavez added.

Chavez previously served as Undersecretary for Railways of the Department of Transportation under the Marcos administration. He was also chief of staff of former Manila mayor and defeated presidential candidate Isko Moreno.

He also previously served as Transportation official during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte. — with reports from Anna Felicia Bajo and Llanesca Panti/ VDV, GMA Integrated News