Palace: Memo ordering gov't salary deduction for quake relief fund untrue

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said on Sunday that an alleged Office of the President memorandum that ordered a two-day government salary deduction to fund a Turkey earthquake relief fund was untrue.

The memo, titled "TWO DAYS SALARY DEDUCTION FOR THE MONTH MARCH 2023 FROM ALL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES FOR PRESIDENT RELIEF FUND FOR TURKEY AND SYRIA" claimed that an earthquake relief fund had been opened and this would be financed by a two-day salary deduction from all officers and officials working "under the Federal Government" and "Officers/Officials of Civil and Armed Forces."

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin allegedly signed the memo.

Garafil said that the Office of the Executive Secretary was coordinating with authorities on the fake memo. — DVM, GMA Integrated News