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Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Conducted Multiple Bilateral Meetings at APEC Summit, Contrary to False Claims
Recent claims circulating on social media that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. failed to hold bilateral meetings with world leaders during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit have been proven false after verification of official records.
Several Facebook accounts have been sharing identical content comparing Marcos’s diplomatic engagements unfavorably against those of his predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte. These posts, which have collectively garnered over 25,000 reactions, 2,000 comments, and 9,700 shares, falsely assert that Marcos has been unable to secure one-on-one meetings with global leaders during APEC gatherings.
The misleading posts feature a photo collage showing Duterte in separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and former US President Donald Trump, suggesting these all occurred during APEC summits under Duterte’s administration.
One prominent account spreading this claim belongs to Mike Romero, a self-declared Duterte supporter with a verified account status, potentially lending unwarranted credibility to the false information. The posts from Romero and other accounts like “Bored Productive” and “Eel Trc” have received significantly higher engagement than their typical content.
Official records paint a dramatically different picture of Marcos’s diplomatic activities. During the recently concluded 32nd APEC Summit, Marcos met with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Chilean President Gabriel Boric, as confirmed through video documentation released by the Presidential Communications Office on November 2.
Furthermore, Marcos has maintained an active schedule of bilateral engagements during previous APEC meetings since taking office in 2022. That year, he met with several world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In 2023, his bilateral discussions included a meeting with then-US President Joe Biden. Marcos did not attend the 2024 APEC event.
The misleading social media posts contain another significant inaccuracy regarding Duterte’s diplomatic record. While the collage suggests that Duterte’s meetings with Putin, Xi, and Trump all occurred during APEC summits, only his meeting with Putin in 2016 actually took place during an APEC gathering. The meeting with Xi that same year occurred during a separate state visit, while his encounter with Trump happened during the 2017 ASEAN Summit hosted in Manila.
This misinformation appears to be part of a coordinated attempt to undermine public perception of Marcos’s diplomatic effectiveness on the world stage. The identical content posted across multiple accounts suggests an organized effort to amplify the false narrative.
Diplomatic engagements at multilateral forums like APEC represent crucial opportunities for countries to advance their economic and strategic interests. For the Philippines, these meetings provide platforms to discuss trade relationships, regional security concerns, and opportunities for investment and cooperation with major global powers and regional partners.
The spread of such misleading information highlights the ongoing challenge of disinformation in Philippine social media and the importance of fact-checking claims about government activities, especially in international affairs where accurate public understanding is vital for informed civic participation.
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8 Comments
Claims that Marcos failed to secure one-on-one meetings seem unfounded. As the leader of a major economy, he likely has a packed schedule of high-level discussions to attend to.
You raise a fair point. Official records should provide a more accurate picture of Marcos’s diplomatic activities at the summit.
It’s good to see President Marcos engaging in bilateral meetings at the APEC summit. Diplomacy and international cooperation are crucial for the Philippines’ economic and geopolitical interests.
Bilateral meetings are an essential part of a president’s diplomatic responsibilities. It’s encouraging to see Marcos engaging with global leaders on behalf of the Philippines.
While it’s natural to compare Marcos’s engagement to Duterte’s, it’s important to evaluate each leader’s approach objectively. Effective diplomacy often happens behind closed doors.
Agreed. Making definitive claims without access to the full details can be misleading. The public may not see the full scope of Marcos’s diplomatic efforts.
Fact-checking claims about high-level meetings is crucial to avoid the spread of misinformation. I’m glad to see the disinformation commission addressing this issue.
Yes, verifying official records is key. Unsubstantiated social media posts can distort the public’s understanding of important events like this APEC summit.