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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the 84th anniversary commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
The Philippine STAR / Noel Pabalate
MANILA, Philippines — Multiple posts and comments falsely claimed that the photos and videos of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Bataan during this year's Araw ng Kagitingan are "throwback" posts.
The claim spread widely in the comments section of posts from news outlets such as GMA News, News5 and NewsWatch Plus, with many alleging that the clips were taken from 2024 or 2025, not 2026.
Multiple comments falsely claimed that the photos and videos of President Bongbong Marcos in Bataan during this year's Araw ng Kagitingan are "throwback" posts.
A Facebook user, who identifies as a “Solid Duterte Supporter” with over 152,000 followers, echoed the claim in a reel posted on Thursday, April 9, which garnered over 14,000 views, 300 reactions, and 200 comments.
A Facebook user with over 152,000 followers, echoed the claim in a reel posted on Thursday, April 9.
The post’s caption read:
"Nasaan naba ang Pangulo? Maglive kayo wag puro Throback pictures"
Rating: This is false.
Facts
Taken on April 9, 2026, during the 84th Araw ng Kagitingan commemoration in Bataan, the photos and videos of Marcos are not “throwback” posts.
In his speech, Marcos referenced the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East affecting fuel prices, indicating the remarks were delivered in the present context, not in past years.
Today’s challenges may not mirror those of yesterday, but they test us in much the same way. Among these is the enduring geopolitical tension that we are observing in the Middle East.
While we may stand far from the centers of conflict, we are not untouched by its consequences. Fuel prices weigh heavily on Filipino families, those who already have the least having been subjected the most to this scourge.
Tensions in the Middle East erupted on Feb. 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched their strikes against Iran, which led to retaliatory attacks from Iran, causing high fuel prices.
Aside from materials released by the Presidential Communications Office, multiple news outlets independently documented the April 9, 2026 wreath-laying ceremony through on-ground coverage.
Multiple news outlets documented the April 9, 2026 wreath-laying ceremony through on-ground coverage.
A comparison of the screen captures from the 2024, 2025 and 2026 commemorations shows clear differences in Marcos’ barong, the backdrops of the speeches and the sunglasses he wore in 2026.
A comparison of the screen captures from the 2024, 2025, and 2026 commemorations shows clear differences.
Why we fact-checked this
Rumors about Marcos’ health have persisted since he was diagnosed with diverticulitis in January 2026, which led to hospitalization and absence from several public events.
He assured the public on April 8, 2026 that he is healthy, while the Palace has repeatedly dismissed rumors about the president's condition. — with reports from Martin Ramos
