Palace: Memo on salary cuts for Turkey aid fake

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has asked authorities to investigate the spread of a fake document stating that there would be deductions in the salaries of government employees to support a relief fund for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.

The document, which claimed to be a memorandum circular from the Office of the President, said a “President’s relief fund for Turkey earthquake victims” has been created “to extend maximum support to Turkish government and people to help them cope with the distractions caused by the earthquake.”

The document, which used the letterhead of the Office of the President and contained the signature of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, claimed President Marcos has approved a two-day salary deduction for officials working in government departments, companies and the military and for officers “holding post on contract” and those “locally recruited in our foreign missions.”

The document, which circulated online, was described by the  Presidential Communications Office as “fake news.”

“The Office of the ES (Executive Secretary) is coordinating with authorities,” Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a text message yesterday.

The fake memorandum circular contained questionable details. According to the document, the two-day salary deduction would cover officers or officials in the ministries, divisions, departments, authorities, corporations, companies, financial institutions, commissions etc. working under the “federal government.”

The Philippines is a republic with a presidential, not a federal form of government. The government also does not call its departments “ministries.”

The death toll from the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that ravaged Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6 has exceeded 46,000, according to latest reports. The Philippine government has deployed a team to Turkey to provide aid to the quake survivors.

In a Facebook post, the Official Gazette warned the public against the fake Palace document.

“The Office of the President and the Office of the Executive Secretary have never issued such ‘Memorandum Circular,’” the post read.

“Government officials and employees are hereby advised to practice precaution and to observe vigilance against these deceptive information,” it added.

The Official Gazette advised the public to visit its website and access its Facebook page for presidential issuances.