Roque denies disregarding IATF rules in Subic, Boracay trips

When confronted about his quick breaks at the beach as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday stood pat he never flouted any health protocols.

In an interview on “Stand for Truth,” Joseph Morong raised the official's recent visit to Boracay, where he was shown walking along the white sands.

Roque said the Boracay trip happened before his exposure to the virus. 

“Kalokohan po ‘yun. I was exposed after I’ve been back from the Visayas. At alam mo, marami diyan talaga mga haters. Wala naman akong pakialam sa kanila,” Roque said.

In July 2020, Roque was also in hot water after he was photographed swimming with dolphins a resort in Subic, Zambales despite the quarantine status in Metro Manila.

Roque denied ever disregarding the rules of the IATF.

"It’s always in compliance. ‘Yung sa Baguio po, well that’s MGCQ po. And whatever I Do is for a reason and I always lend a helping hand. I was invited precisely to stimulate tourism,” Roque said.

The presidential spokesperson was referring to a video that recorded him singing without a face mask in Baguio, which he later defended as just “unloading” after a hectic week.

PSG vaccination

Roque also advised critics to put “into context” the early vaccination of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) despite the lack of an authorized vaccine at that time, after he was asked about priority groups for inoculation.

“Ilagay kasi sa tamang konteksto. ‘Yung wala talagang pilian o walang pilitan, para ‘yun sa ating mga mamamayan na bibigyan ng libreng bakuna,” Roque said.

“‘Yung PSG, hindi naman po ‘yan galing sa pondo ng taong bayan, so hindi po ‘yan kasama doon sa kontektso na walang piliian, walang pilitan,” he added.

PSG commander Brigadier General Jesus Durante III has admitted that his unit acquired the COVID-19 vaccine for free, but declined to disclose its source.

Duterte vaccination

The presidential spokesperson also denied knowledge on whether President Rodrigo Duterte has been vaccinated against the COVID-19.

“Wala po akong impormasyon diyan dahil nakikita ko lang naman si Presidente once or twice a week. Whether or not a person has been vaccinated, ‘yan po ay between the person and his position,” he said.

Roque also denied that the preferred the vaccine by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac.

“Hindi po. In fact, ang inaasahan natin ay darating nga ang Pfizer and AstraZeneca galing sa COVAX facility,” Roque said.

“Ang sinasabi lang natin is reality. Ang maunang darating siguro po dahil ito po ay nakaukit na ang petsa sa 23 ng buwan ay ang Sinovac,” he added.

Several senators have raised the issue of the government’s alleged preference for Sinovac.

Meanwhile, more than half a million doses of Sinovac’s vaccine are expected to arrive on February 23, including the 100,000 donated by the Chinese government to the Department of National Defense.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News