Roque says leaker of video of him berating doctors liable for ‘revealing public secrets’
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said the person who leaked a video of him castigating a group of doctors for asking the government to rescind its decision to ease quarantine curbs could be held liable for “revealing public secrets.”
He said he the person could also be held liable under the Data Privacy Act and Anti-Wire Tapping Law.
But asked if he would file a case against the video leaker, Roque said he would leave it up to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
“I think they are liable… for revealing public secrets, but I will leave it up to the IATF since it has already been discussed in our meeting,” Roque said, speaking in a mix of Filipino and English, in a Palace briefing.
A video obtained from a source by the Philippine Daily Inquirer shows an apparently fuming Roque during an IATF meeting after a group of doctors requested the government to reconsider its decision to relax quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila as coronavirus infections continued to rise amid the highly contagious Delta variant.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: WATCH: Roque castigates doctors’ group opposing eased restrictions
Article continues after this advertisementRoque was seen berating the doctors for expressing their discontent over the government’s pandemic response.
He was recorded telling one of the participants in the online meeting that their group should recognize the Duterte administration’s efforts to contain the virus.
“We employed the ‘entire government approach’ thinking about economic ramifications, thinking about the people (who) will go hungry. It does not mean that we care any less,” Roque said in a raised voice.
“And let me point out to everyone, this group, they have never said anything good about the government response,” he said, pointing a finger at the doctors through his computer camera.
It was learned that he was addressing Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the Philippine College of Physicians.
