The Short Version
Every element of this claim is well-supported by multiple independent Philippine news sources. At least six outlets — including The Manila Times, Philstar.com, Vera Files, Daily Tribune, The Star, and SunStar — consistently report that Claire Castro, Press Officer of the Presidential Communications Office, explicitly called the energy lockdown claim "fake news" on April 3, 2026. The denial was communicated both via message to reporters and at a press briefing, firmly establishing it as a public statement.