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Claim: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is skipping the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Peru from November 9 to 16 because drug testing is needed to participate in the event.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video with the claim has over 17,020 views.
The video’s title bears the text, “BBM natakot sa drug testing sa APEC kaya pala di dumalo? Isiniwalat ng Waray.” (BBM scared of drug testing in APEC, that is why he will not attend? Waray revealed.)
Aside from the title, the video’s thumbnail contains the claim. It also shows three screenshots of a news report headline about Marcos skipping APEC, a screenshot of the President’s reason for the decision, and a third with the text, “Because he needs to take a drug test before entering the event” in Filipino.
The facts: Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez told Palace reporters on November 7 that Marcos will skip APEC to “prioritize domestic concerns, including government responses to calamities,” reports from state-run Philippine News Agency, GMA Integrated News, INQUIRER.net, and The Philippine Star said.
According to a November 7 PCO Facebook post, Marcos decided to designate Department of Trade and Industry Acting Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque as Special Envoy to the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week.
Chavez said the President will focus on domestic issues, particularly calamity response, after a string of weather disturbances hit the country since October — Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, Super Typhoon Leon, and Typhoon Marce. According to the weather bureau’s latest update on November 8, Marce exited the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday afternoon.
Rumors and commentary: The video provides no evidence to support the claim. Instead, it merely showed comments from several Facebook users suggesting the rumor.
It also cited a vlogger named “Waray Laban” who said Marcos is skipping APEC because he does not want to take a drug test. However, the vlogger only repeated the claim several times in a TikTok post without providing credible sources.
The claim echoes allegations of drug use levied against the President, an accusation previously amplified by Marcos’ predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte. (READ: Foul-mouthed Duterte at it again, spits venom at Marcos and calls him ‘drug addict’)
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Marcos’ attendance at APEC: Prior to his decision to skip APEC this year, Marcos already attended the annual regional forum twice: the 2022 APEC Summit hosted by Thailand and the 2023 APEC Summit hosted by the United States.
This year, the APEC Summit will be held in Lima, the capital city of Peru, the host country of this year’s regional forum.
Serial disinformation peddler: Rappler has published in-depth stories about the YouTube channel Robin Sweet Showbiz and debunked several of its videos in the past:
- Red flag for 2022: Political lies go unchecked on YouTube showbiz channels
- They’re getting smarter: How disinformation peddlers avoid regulation
- MISSING CONTEXT: Philippine economy grows by 11.8%
- FALSE: 1Sambayan releases presidential survey with Robredo in the lead
- Mainstream media covered Sara Duterte’s visit to Siquijor
- FALSE: Media did not report on deficiencies in OVP spending flagged by COA
- MISSING CONTEXT: Pacquiao used fake diploma to become lieutenant colonel
- FALSE: 6 senators to be sued for treason for defunding NTF-ELCAC
– Lorenz Pasion/Rappler.com
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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