MANILA, Philippines 鈥� House Speaker Martin Romualdez did not suffer a stroke and was not confined in a hospital, his head executive assistant Lemuel Erwin Romero said on Saturday.
The clarification came amid rumors circulating online that the Speaker 鈥渉ad a heat stroke鈥� and was brought to a hospital.
The claims were echoed in Dec. 6 videos by YouTube channels The General鈥檚 Viewpoint, Robin Sweet Showbiz, Showbiz Chika-doro, and Ako si Kabibig, which have amassed 251,944 views as of this writing.
鈥淲e strongly deny the false and malicious rumors being circulated online claiming that Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez suffered a stroke and is currently confined in a hospital,鈥� Romero said.
鈥淭hese allegations are completely untrue and are clearly designed to mislead the public and sow confusion,鈥� he added in his statement to the press.
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Romero underlined that Romualdez is 鈥渋n excellent health and continues to perform his duties with dedication and focus.鈥�
The executive assistant said that on the morning of Dec. 6, the Speaker was at Malaca帽ang Palace for the signing of the Ligtas Pinoy Centers and the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Acts.
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Romero added that Romualdez was then with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., along with other national and local government figures, at the year-end event of the League of Provinces of the Philippines.
鈥淲e urge everyone to rely only on verified and official sources of information and to reject disinformation that seeks to undermine trust in our leaders and institutions,鈥� Romero stressed.