MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews / 21 December)—False information has been circulated on social media and through chat groups that Dec. 22, Friday, has been declared as a “special half-working day” throughout the country by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Marcos purportedly issued Proclamation 427 on Thursday declaring the special half-working day “to give people the full opportunity to travel earlier to their respective residences and provinces” for the holiday.
The false information was shared using an image of the “proclamation” supposedly signed by another official on behalf of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and certified by Atty. Dustin Garvida, Acting Director IV of Malacañang Records Office.
A check at officialgazette.gov.ph showed that Proclamation 427, series of 2023 was signed on Dec. 15, declaring nine individuals as Manlilikha ng Bayan.
The real Proclamation 427 was uploaded on Thursday, Dec. 21.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCOO) has issued a “fake news” alert on its Facebook page early afternoon Thursday.
“Ipinababatid ng Presidential Communications Office na ang kumakalat na ‘Proclamation No. 427’ na idinideklarang special (half-working) day ang ika-22 ng Disyembre 2023, araw ng Biyernes, ay kumpirmadong walang katotohanan,” the PCOO said.
“Ang nasabing dokumento ay huwad at walang opisyal na beripikasyon ng pamahalaan. Pinaaalalahanan ang publiko na maging mapanuri at sumangguni lamang sa official government sources para sa tamang impormasyon,” it added.
On Dec. 12, Marcos Jr. issued Proclamation 425 declaring December 26, the day after Christmas, a special non-working day, saying a longer weekend “will encourage families to get together and strengthen their relationship leading to a better society.”
He added the longer weekend will also promote domestic tourism.
People are expected to flock to the provinces for the Christmas celebration, which falls on Monday. (MindaNews)
