MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:19 p.m.) — December 22 is not a special half-working day, Malacañang clarified Thursday, debunking a circulating document.
“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,” the Official Gazette said.
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“This proclamation lacks official verification or recognition by the government,” the Official Gazette added as it urged the public to rely on official government sources for accurate information and refrain from disseminating unverified claims.
'Not verified'
Presidential Assistant for Strategic Communications Cesar Chavez apologized after posting on Facebook the fake proclamation that supposedly declared December 22 as a special half-working day.
“I also posted a content that was not first verified by me. For the confusion it has created, the blame falls on me,” Chavez said.
“I take full responsibility for this oversight. As a former newsman who has been a stickler for fact-checking, this one evaded me,” he added.
Several entities, such as local government units and media outlets, also carried the false document.
The original Proclamation 247, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, by authority of the president on December 15, declared nine individuals as “National Living Treasures” or “Manlilikha ng Bayan.”
The chief executive earlier declared December 26, which falls on a Tuesday, as a special non-working holiday. He said the long weekend would “encourage families to get together and strengthen their relationships, leading to a better society.”