Malacañang on Sunday blasted as “fake news” the circulating document directing a two-day salary deduction from all government employees as a donation to aid earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria.

“This is not true,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil told reporters in a text message.

She disclosed that the Office of the Executive Secretary is already coordinating with authorities to investigate the supposed memorandum circular, which bears the signature of ES Lucas Bersamin and the letterhead of the Office of the President.

The MC claimed that the fund dubbed the “President’s Relief Fund For Turkey Earthquake Victims,” was set up to extend financial assistance to the Turkish and Syrian governments following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on 6 February.

“To extend maximum support to Turkish Government and people to help them cope with the distractions caused by the earthquake, a fund has been established/opened as ‘President’s Relief Fund for Turkey Earthquake Victims,'” the false MC read.

The salary deduction allegedly applies to employees “working in ministries/divisions/departments/authorities/corporations/companies /financial institutions/commission under the Federal Government” in March 2023.

The Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of government wherein power is equally divided among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

The quake in Turkey has so far claimed the lives of two Filipinos and left one Filipino wounded.

The Philippine government sent an 82-member Philippine Inter-Agency Contingent to Turkey to augment rescue and relief operations in the quake-hit areas.

At least 46,000 people have been reported dead following the massive quake as of 18 February.