By Gabriela Baron
The Malacañan refuted on Sunday, Feb. 19, the memorandum making the rounds on social media ordering a two-day pay cut for government workers to raise a “relief fund” for those affected by the quake in Turkey and Syria.
“This is not true,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil told reporters in a text message.
Meanwhile, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said they are already coordinating with the authorities regarding the fake memorandum.
The fake document claims that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. authorized “two days salary deduction for the month of March 2023” from all government employees, including armed personnel.
“To extend maximum support to Turkish Government and people to help them cope with the distractions caused by the earthquake a fund has been established/opened as ‘President’s Relief Fund for Turkey Earthquake Victims,” the fake memo read.
On Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit parts of Turkey and Syria, leaving over 46,000 people dead, among those were two Filipinos. With reports from Clay Pardilla
