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A viral YouTube video falsely claiming that Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans to resign has been debunked as a deliberate misrepresentation of his statements from an official podcast.
The misleading nine-minute video, posted by a channel with 283,000 subscribers on December 11, features a sensationalist thumbnail showing Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte with text reading “BREAKING NEWS — Pres Marcos biglang nagpaalam sa pagbaba sa pwesto?” (BREAKING NEWS — President Marcos suddenly announced his resignation?).
The video begins with an alarming statement that “many were surprised” and “saddened by the sudden farewell of our beloved President as he steps down from his position.” It then plays out-of-context soundbites of Marcos speaking about his legacy, garnering thousands of views and hundreds of supportive comments from viewers who appeared to believe the false narrative.
Fact-checkers have confirmed that Marcos has made no announcement about stepping down. The video deliberately manipulates comments from the President that appeared in BBM Podcast 6 (Episode 2), published by the Presidential Communications Office on December 11.
In the original podcast, Marcos was responding to a question about whether his governance style differed from that of his father, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The President discussed the importance of implementing structural reforms that would outlast his administration, stating: “My hope and the reason structural change is important is because kahit wala na ako rito, sana ‘yung mga pagbabagong nasimulan namin o na tumatakbo na, matuloy-tuloy na para hindi na matanggal.”
This translates to: “My hope, and the reason structural change is important, is that even when I am no longer here, I hope the changes we started or those already underway will continue so they will not be undone.”
The video creator extracted the phrase “kahit wala na ako rito” (even when I am no longer here) from its context about institutional continuity and framed it as evidence of an imminent resignation. While the video eventually includes a brief disclaimer toward the end clarifying that the president was referring to eventually leaving office due to term limits, the overall presentation was clearly designed to mislead viewers.
This fabrication comes at a politically sensitive time in the Philippines, as Marcos has faced calls for resignation amid corruption allegations regarding a bicameral insertion scheme and claims about alleged drug use. Malacañang has consistently rejected these resignation demands.
This is not an isolated incident. Similar false claims about President Marcos resigning have circulated repeatedly on social media platforms, often using unrelated video clips, dramatic thumbnails, and misleading narrations to drive engagement and spread disinformation.
Media literacy experts note that such tactics—isolating quotes, adding sensational “breaking news” labels, and burying clarifications at the end of videos after damage has been done—are common strategies used by creators of misleading political content to generate views while maintaining plausible deniability about their intentions.
The Philippine political landscape continues to be vulnerable to such misinformation, with supporters of various political factions actively engaged in creating and sharing content that advances their preferred narratives, regardless of factual accuracy.
Authorities have encouraged citizens to verify information through official government channels and credible news sources before accepting or sharing dramatic political claims that appear on social media platforms.
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9 Comments
Disappointing to see this blatant misinformation trying to mislead the public. Fact-checking is crucial to maintain trust in our leaders and institutions. I’m glad the authorities were quick to debunk this false narrative.
Agreed. Spreading disinformation, especially around political figures, is incredibly irresponsible. Fact-checking and media literacy are so important these days.
This is a concerning trend of using sensationalist tactics to generate views and engagement, even at the expense of the truth. I hope the public remains vigilant and cross-references credible sources before believing viral claims.
Absolutely. We need to be very wary of emotionally-charged headlines and out-of-context snippets, and always seek to verify information from reputable, unbiased outlets.
This is a timely reminder of the importance of media literacy and critical thinking. It’s all too easy for false narratives to gain traction, which is why we must always question the sources and context of information we encounter online.
Well said. Fact-checking and a healthy skepticism towards sensationalized claims are essential for maintaining an informed and discerning public.
It’s disheartening to see how quickly misinformation can spread, especially around high-profile political figures. Kudos to the fact-checkers for setting the record straight and calling out this deliberate attempt to mislead.
Agreed. In the age of social media, we have to be extra diligent in scrutinizing claims, even from channels with large followings. Verifying information from primary sources is crucial.
Sadly, this is not the first time we’ve seen misleading videos or articles trying to spin a false narrative. It’s a concerning trend that undermines trust in our institutions and public discourse. We must remain vigilant and demand accountability from those who spread disinformation.