Roque cries foul over ‘fake news’ quoting him, vows to file charges

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday cried foul over the spread in social media of a fake statement being attributed to him, adding that he would file charges against the perpetrators.

According to the post circulating on social media, Roque was quoted as saying: “COVID lang ‘yan, kunti lang namamatay, kahit umabot pa ng 10 million and infected sa Pinas, walang mawawala sa atin, siguro 10 thousand lang ang patay. Be thankful instead kasi ang Pangulo natin ay hindi nahahawaan. Kaya blessed pa din tayo.”

(That’s just COVID. Only a few people die from it. Even if the cases reach 10 million here in the Philippines, no one will die, maybe only 10,000 will die. Be thankful instead because the President is not being infected. So we are still blessed.)

Roque, however, belied making such a statement.

“Hindi ko sinabi ‘yun. Ang sinabi ko ay ibang-iba. Mag-ingat tao sa mga fake news (I did not say that. What I said was way different. Let us be wary of fake news),” Roque said in an online press briefing.

“’Yung mga nagkakalat ng fake news, sasampolan ko kayo. Pai-imbestigahan ko kayo at ako ay magsasampa ng kaso. Antayin nyo ‘yan,” he added.

(Those who are spreading fake news, I will give you a sample. I will have you investigated and I will file charges. Just wait for it.)

Roque said that the public should check his official page or the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) for verified information or pronouncements.

EDV