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| - SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
Claim: Former president Ferdinand E. Marcos deposited over a million tons of gold into the World Bank for a “Wealth for Humanity” fund intended to lift the Philippines out of poverty.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in a YouTube video that has garnered over 31,000 views, 1,600 likes, and 200 comments as of writing. The channel that uploaded the video has 1.35 million subscribers and has published multiple videos about the alleged existence of the Marcos gold reserves.
The facts: The claim that the late president had over a million metric tons of gold for his “Wealth for Humanity” fund is false. Rappler and other fact-checking organizations have repeatedly debunked posts about this supposed gold reserve being set aside for the benefit of the Filipino people.
The video further alleges that the Philippines possesses $67.5 trillion worth of gold and that if the monetary value of this gold is distributed, each Filipino would receive P24 million.
However, this claim is dubious. As of 2025, the amount of gold mined throughout history, according to the World Gold Council, is estimated to be around 216,265 tons — far less than the one million tons allegedly owned by Marcos.
Discredited source: As supposed evidence for its claim, the video also features a clip of Karen Hudes, a former World Bank employee who claims to be a whistleblower. However, the World Bank officially disassociated itself from Hudes in 2014, stating that she had not worked for the institution since 2007 and that any claims by Hudes or her proxies are “false and should not be viewed as credible.”
Her claims have been debunked multiple times and dismissed as conspiracy theories with no credible evidence.
The Marcos gold myth: While multiple fact-checking bodies have repeatedly debunked these posts, such claims continue to circulate, with many social media users continuing to insist that the Marcos gold is real.
One comment read: “Salamat [kay] President Marcos Sr kaya suportahan natin ang ating Pres BBM. Naniniwala ako sa yaman ng mga Marcoses.”
(Thank you to President Marcos Sr. We should support our President Bongbong Marcos. I believe in the wealth of the Marcoses.)
The myth of the Marcos gold and the supposed “Wealth for Humanity” program has existed since at least 2011, largely spread online by fringe accounts. The volume of posts about the Marcos gold gradually increased, coinciding with the Marcoses running for public office.
Other fact checks: Rappler has previously debunked various versions of the claim:
FACT CHECK: Marcos doesn’t have ‘over a million metric tons’ of gold in banks worldwide
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FACT CHECK: World Bank doesn’t have Marcos gold deposits
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FACT CHECK: No ‘Wealth for Humanity’ in Marcos’ last will
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FACT CHECK: ‘Photo’ of Marcos gold is AI-generated
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FACT CHECK: Video doesn’t show evidence of Marcos revealing family’s gold account
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– Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com
Efren Cyril Bocar is a student journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar, enrolled in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. A managing editor of Amaranth, Cyril is a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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