FACT CHECK: Marcos did not say cocaine use led to diverticulitis diagnosis

Claim: After disclosing that he was diagnosed with diverticulitis, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. admitted that his health condition was caused by heavy cocaine use.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: A YouTube video titled “President Marcos, umamin na dahilan health condition ay heavy cocaine use (President Marcos admitted the reason for his health condition is heavy cocaine use)” was uploaded by Jojo De Guzman KonekTV on January 23. 

The video’s narrator speculates that Marcos’ diverticulitis diagnosis is evidence of cocaine use. The narrator states: “Ang cocaine use ay attributed doon sa symptoms ng diverticulitis… Parehas na parehas ang sintomas! Kaya kung sinasabi na ‘diverticulitis’ daw, malamang sinasabi lang nila ito na diverticulitis pero ito pala ay heavy use of cocaine.” 

(Cocaine use is attributed to the symptoms of diverticulitis… The symptoms are exactly the same! So if they say it’s ‘diverticulitis,’ they’re probably just saying it’s the illness, but it’s actually heavy cocaine use.)

The video implies that Marcos inadvertently revealed his alleged cocaine use by mentioning his diverticulitis diagnosis. The narrator says: “Wala kang katakas-takas, Marcos Jr.! Ikaw po ay nadulas, galing sa bibig mo ang diverticulitis.” 

(You can’t escape, Marcos! You slipped up by saying it’s diverticulitis.)

Many social media users in the comments section believed the claim, with some calling for Marcos’ resignation or impeachment based on the video’s allegations.

As of writing, the video has garnered 23,710 views and 2,500 likes.

The facts: Marcos did not admit to cocaine use or link it to his diverticulitis diagnosis, contrary to the claim. In a January 22 video statement, he described the condition as a “common complaint amongst people who are heavily stressed and…growing old.”

Diverticulitis is an inflammatory condition of the digestive tract with multiple common causes and risk factors, including age, having a low-fiber diet, obesity, lack of exercise, and genetics. According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition typically affects people over 50 and becomes more common with age. Marcos is 68 years old.

The video merely makes medical speculations, not a factual report of any supposed admission by Marcos. No credible news outlet has reported that Marcos admitted to cocaine use or linked his diverticulitis diagnosis to drug use.

Marcos’ health: The President was placed under medical observation at St. Luke’s Medical Center on January 21, after experiencing discomfort. He was diagnosed with diverticulitis and has since returned to Malacañang Palace to continue his duties. Palace officials have consistently stated that the condition is not life-threatening.

Rumors linking Marcos to drug use, which the President has denied, have surfaced repeatedly over the years, including past allegations by then‑president Rodrigo Duterte calling Marcos a “drug addict.”

Recent weeks have seen a surge of false claims about Marcos’ health, ranging from a fabricated medical report and a bogus statement attributed to Palace Press Undersecretary Claire Castro, to an AI‑generated photo purporting to show the President confined to a hospital bed, all of which have already been debunked. – Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com

Efren Cyril Bocar is a journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar who graduated with a degree in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. Cyril is also a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024. 

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