Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.
VALERIE ESCALERA/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The social media posts claiming the return of a stricter lockdown in the country from Dec. 22 until January next year is “fake news,” officials of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) said on Saturday.
“Fake news po,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who is also the IATF spokesperson, said in a text message to INQUIRER.net, reacting to tweets about the supposed enhanced community quarantine enforcement during the holidays.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, for his part, also dispelled reports of a stricter lockdown because the government has yet to make a proposal about quarantine status during the Yuletide season.
“Wala namang proposal na ganyan sa IATF saka walang basis [There is no such proposal on that from IATF, also there is no basis],” Año, co-chair of IATF, said in another text message to INQUIRER.net.
Tweets made rounds this weekend about the alleged announcements of strict lockdown status in their areas.
“Nagannounce dito. Lockdown Dec. 22 – Jan. 2 [Someone announced the lockdown],” said a Twitter user.
“Oy strict lockdown na naman daw ng December [Strict lockdown again in December]?” said another user.
“Badtrip yung lockdown ng Dec. 22,” another account also tweeted.
President Rodrigo Duterte placed the Metro Manila, Batangas, Iloilo City, Tacloban City, Lanao del Sur, Iligan, and Davao City are under general community quarantine (GCQ) until the end of December.
The rest of the country is under modified general community quarantine until the end of the year.