Manila, Feb. 11 -- Malacanang on Wednesday dismissed rumors that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been diagnosed with colon cancer.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro slammed the claim about Marcos' health, describing it as a blatant lie and a mere distraction.

"'Yun na nga po ang masama kasi mga rumors, mga tsismis, walang katotohanan na nakakapanira sa gobyerno, nakakapanira sa Pangulo na nakakaapekto sa ekonomiya (What's bad about this is that rumors and lies which can damaging to the government, the President and affect the economy)," Castro told reporters.

Castro's statement came after former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque posted a photo of Marcos, insinuating that the President appeared to have a ...