Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque dismissed a document circulating on social media as fake that allegedly outlined the Philippines’ concessions to secure a trade agreement with the United States (US).

“I want to inform the general public that I did not issue such document, hence, it is fake and my signature appearing therein is a forgery,” said Roque in a statement on Tuesday, July 22.

“I therefore condemn the malicious and irresponsible circulation of this document and the information contained therein,” she added.

Roque was referring to a document posted by a blogger on Facebook titled, “Message to Technical Working Group,” which bears her signature.

It purportedly outlined the secretary’s instructions, as supposedly conveyed to her by the president, for the country’s negotiations with the US for a trade agreement.

The document, posted on Monday, claimed that Manila will be willing to reduce tariffs on major exports from the US while significantly increasing imports.

It also alleged that the country will facilitate US investment in oil and gas exploration and offer preferential access to critical mineral resources, among others.

Roque said such a document is rooted in “ill motive” given the sensitivity of the subject matter and the timing of its release.

“I strongly advise the general public to refrain from sharing or circulating the same,” she said.

The secretary told the public that only information released through official government channels should be regarded as accurate and verified information.

“We remain committed to transparency and the utmost protection of the integrity of our national interests,” she stressed.

The document in question was posted just as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived in Washington, DC, to meet with US President Donald Trump.

Before departing Manila, Marcos said that addressing the 20 percent tariff imposed on Philippine goods will be among the priorities in his meeting with Trump.

The president said he is willing to negotiate for a bilateral trade deal with the US that ensures “mutually beneficial and future-oriented collaborations.”

“We will see how much progress we can make when it comes to the negotiations with the United States, concerning the changes that we would like to institute, so as to be able to alleviate the effects of a very severe tariff schedule,” said Marcos.

Joining Marcos, a trade delegation featuring Roque and other members of his economic team will also meet with their counterparts in the Trump administration to hold negotiations on the tariffs.