‘Baka isisi pa rin sa pangulo’: Malacañang allays fears on Russian plague
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. speaks before members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) and answers queries on various national and international issues during FOCAP’s Presidential Luncheon at a hotel in Manila on August 14, 2026. Noel B. Pabalate, PPA Pool SINGAPORE — Malacañang assured the public Wednesday that the government is keeping an eye on the reported Russian plague.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Department of Health (DOH) is “closely monitoring” the situation while “seriously considering” the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
“Nakausap po natin mismo ang DOH, at closely monitoring po sila sa nagaganap, lalong-lalo na po at siniseryoso rin po ng DOH ang mga rekomendasyon ng WHO,” Castro said in a press briefing at the Philippine Embassy in Singapore on Wednesday, October 7, ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s five-day working visit.
“So rest assured po, ang mga kababayan natin po na nakatutok po ang DOH at kung anuman po ang kinakailangan pang gawin, iyon po ay kanilang gagawin,” she added.
The Palace official further noted that the health department has been compliant in monitoring the outbreak to allay fears of the general public.
“So far ay nami-meet naman po nila ang mga requirements para maibsan ang takot natin tungkol dito sa plague na nangyayari sa Russia,” she said.
“At least ‘no, baka kasi itong Russian plague ay isisi pa rin kay Pangulo Marcos Jr.,” Castro quipped.
It is unclear who she was hinting at.