Philippine social media users have been speculating about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s health after he skipped an event in early April, but his office has refuted these rumours. The rumours included sharing an old photo of the country's flag at half-mast, suggesting that Marcos had passed away. The photo was originally published by state news media in 2022, when the flag at the presidential palace was lowered to mourn the death of former leader Fidel Ramos. Jay Sonza, a former broadcaster and supporter of the influential Duterte family, shared this image on April 12, 2026. The claim was part of a wave of speculation surrounding Marcos's health after his absence from an event with overseas Filipino workers returning from the Middle East.