Those who released a video of Harry Roque shouting at some doctors at a recent meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) could face multiple court cases in court.
On Friday, the video of presidential spokesperson Harry Roque spread while he was angry with healthcare workers calling for tougher lockdowns on the increase in COVID-19 cases.
“Sa tingin ko po, liable [sila sa Data Privacy Act at Anti-Wiretapping Law],” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday in a briefing.
“At liable din po for revealing public secrets. Pero hahayaan ko na po ‘yan sa IATF.”
Roque had earlier said that the IATF meetings were secret. They debated what quarantine restrictions would be lowered in Metro Manila and other parts of the country as the pandemic intensified.
Roque’s defense, his head heats up because hungry people affected by the left, and right COVID-19 restrictions have to work. The Philippine College of Physicians President Dr. Maricar Limpin decided to return Manila to General Community Quarantine. But, Roque said, “he only speaks for the hungry” who are “voiceless” at IATF meetings.
Person who leaked Roque’s video shouting at doctors can face charges – Palace
He has since apologized for being “emotional,” which many see as verbal abuse of suffering healthcare workers, but will not apologize for his message.
“Kinukumpirma ko po na tayo po’y naging emosyonal, pasensya naman po kayo, tao lamang, doon sa rekomendasyon ng dalawang doktor… na mag-impose ng hard [enhanced community quarantine] lockdown [sa Metro Manila],” Roque said.
“Kung meron po akong na-offend sa aking pananalita, well, humihingi po ako ng abiso. Pero kinakailangan na pong pakinggan natin ‘yung boses ng mga hindi naririnig sa [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases], ang hanay ng naghihirap at nagugutom.”
On Saturday, the Philippines reached record-high new COVID-19 cases in just one day in history at 26,603. As a result, some health workers are now calling for more restrictions to alleviate the country’s healthcare system due to the number of cases.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.