Roque takes charge of COVID-19 information dissemination

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesman Harry Roque will now take the lead in disseminating information on how the government is responding to the COVID-19 health crisis.

Roque announced this Thursday in an online press briefing, citing a memorandum from the Office of the Executive Secretary.

Roque said the only authorized persons to speak on behalf of the government, based on the memo from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, are the Presidential Spokesperson and Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire for health-related matters.

“Nagkaroon na po ng pag-uutos ang ating Executive Secretary that information sharing will now be centralized through the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson,” Roque said.

Malacañang, however, has yet to release a copy of the said memo as of posting time.

Roque also said that he is clueless about what prompted the change in the communication strategy.

Prior to this, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, the designated spokesman of the inter-agency task force handling the government’s response on the COVID-19 pandemic, has been at the forefront of government’s information dissemination concerning the health crisis.

He has conducted daily virtual press briefings, announcing the latest updates from the task force.

/MUF