MANILA, Philippines — How did presidential spokesperson Harry Roque get a room at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH)? One possible way is through a room in the hospital that is reserved for the President of the Philippines.
According to former health secretary Janette Garin, who now serves as a representative of the 1st District of Iloilo, there is a room inside the PGH that is intended for the President of the country in cases of emergency.
“As a former secretary of health, I am not sure if it still stays now pero sa pagkakaalam ko po kasi, ang PGH as a hospital ay meron po ‘yang kwarto na naka-reserve for the President of the Republic of the Philippines,” Garin said in an interview with Teleradyo.
“Baka lang nung nangyari ito at kailangan siyang dalhin sa opsital ay nakiusap siya na i-waive iyon ng Presidente at ipagamit sa kanya. That can be possible,” she added.
Garin, however, stressed that this is only her theory—and not a fact—as to how Roque could have possibly secured a room in the PGH.
The former health secretary said the room has been in existence for a long time but is not given attention since Presidents usually use private hospitals.
Roque on Tuesday insisted that he did not get special treatment when he got admitted at the PGH because his condition merited hospital admission.
He said that “palakasan” does not work at PGH, adding that he was in “bad shape” when he was admitted.
Roque likewise assured he did not use his position as President Rodrigo Duterte’s mouthpiece to secure a bed at PGH since his doctors in PGH were already his doctors long before he joined the government.