Roque on Duterte’s public address airing when people are sleeping: It’s not a problem

Malacañang said Tuesday that the airing of President Rodrigo Duterte’s public address at late night to dawn when most people are asleep is not a wrong policy. 

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque was referring to the President’s taped Talk to the People typically aired late Monday night to early Tuesday or late Wednesday night to early Thursday every week.

“Wala pong problema maski ma-ere ‘yan ng gabi (there is no problem in airing it at night),” he said during a Palace briefing when asked why the President’s address to the nation is not being aired at a time when the people he is addressing are still awake.

“Nire-replay ng PTV-4 ‘yan kinabukasan kaya iyong hindi makakapanood sa gabi ay makakapanood kinabukasan (Replays are aired over state-run PTV-4 so those who missed the airing at night can watch it during the day),” Roque added. 

The President’s regular Talk to the People was adopted since the country has been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Duterte however has used such addresses to attack his political rivals such as when he asked Vice President Leni Robredo where she goes home at night. 

Early Tuesday morning, the President also slammed the Commission on Audit for publishing a report showing the Department of Health’s deficient spending of P67.3 billion worth of COVID-19 pandemic response funds. —KG, GMA News