Palace mum on Marcos Jr.’s alleged hiring of PR firm

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May 22, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday described as “based on speculation and intrigue” an investigative report claiming that President Marcos had tapped a London public relations firm to rehabilitate his image.

According to a report by Whale Hunting, communications firm Project Associates sent Marcos a “confidential” proposal a month before he won the 2022 presidential race offering to “manage” the international narrative around him for $144,000 a month.

Whale Hunting, composed of former reporters for The Wall Street Journal, also claimed that the President was at the center of the Philippines’ “political meltdown.”

It cited the shooting incident at the Senate, the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte and the leadership change at the Senate, made possible by 13 senators, four of whom were linked to the flood control corruption scandal.

“We have no comment on articles based on speculation and intrigue,” Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said when asked to react to the report.

“The Palace deals (with) facts and is focused on the problems facing Filipinos today, not speculation about events years ago,” she added.

Whale Hunting described itself as a newsletter and podcast “delving into the secret worlds of money and power” that its staff became obsessed with during their investigation on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

The report also details an alleged international money laundering scheme involving Marcos’ cousin, former speaker Martin Romualdez, and alleged ties of the President’s son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos to the flood control mess.

The Whale Hunting report, titled “The Scapegoat,” written by Bradley Hope and dated May 19, 2026, is available on the Whale Hunting website.