Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque tested positive for COVID-19.
Some Netizens, however, are starting to question if the test result is ‘real’ or is it just his way to avoid issues.
So after Sinas, Roque test positive for COVID-19.
Part of me is asking: is that true? Or para makaiwas lang sa issues?
— Michelle Roldan (@dompy_roldan) March 15, 2021
Another Netizen even tweeted a made-up scenario of the Spox asking the Department of Health (DOH) if they already printed his fake test results so that people would stop questioning him.
Harry Roque tonight kausap ang doh:
Hoy yung pekeng covid result ko naprint niyo na ba?? Kailangan ko bukas ipapakita ko sa kanila para manahimik na.— King (@KingNginamo1) March 16, 2021
“Show test para tama ka and pahiya kami.”
Show test para tama ka and pahiya kami
. Go, show test results + diagnostic lab corroborating. If no test shared — ay, wala. Bogus as per usual. https://t.co/csFU8hthm2
— Gang Capati 🇵🇭 (@gangbadoy) March 16, 2021
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto showed his test results, but Roque has not.
Tutal anniversary naman ng lockdown at uso ang pag uulit ng pangyayari:
Ipapatawag ulit ng NBI si Vico Sotto dahil pinahiya nya si Horror Roque este dinisclose nya ang test results nya. https://t.co/5MeBfbw0Cj
— Arbet Bernardo (@ArbetBernardo) March 16, 2021
Sotto has tested negative to COVID-19.
NEGATIVE ang result ng pcr test ko.
Negative din yung nakasama namin sa sasakyan.
Thank you for your messages and prayers.
Let's all do our part to prevent the spread of this virus and its variants. pic.twitter.com/utVmF9FaHd
— Vico Sotto (@VicoSotto) March 15, 2021
In a previous tweet, Mayor Sotto mentioned that he and some of his staff got exposed to his driver. His driver passed on due to COVID.
Last Saturday, we lost a good friend, Kuya Vener, to covid.
Following DOH protocol, I'll be in quarantine until March 24 (2wks fr when he last drove for me). Will continue working via zoom & phone.
Thank you for your kind messages. Pls pray, especially for his family. pic.twitter.com/6tZKpzTz7d
— Vico Sotto (@VicoSotto) March 15, 2021
“Something’s fishy,” a Twitter user wrote about Roque’s announcement.
https://twitter.com/jonathannn007/status/1371720759396081667
@Always_Ayen suspected that t is ‘fishy’ for Roque and the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas to be positive with COVID 19.
https://twitter.com/Always_Ayen/status/1371380030266245121
“Kaylangan namin ng resibo,” another tweeted.
dapat ilabas ung test result nila sinas at roque!!!Kailangan namin ng resibo.
— ✧*̣̩⋆̩☽⋆゜ (@popperteee) March 15, 2021
A Netizen also asked if they’re using the virus to get away from other issues.
So alam na po natin na may nagsisinungaling para tabunan ang mga issue earlier. Yung isa kaya na nag positive totoo rin kaya? O baka para matabunan din ang issue sa kanila 🤨🤨🤨 https://t.co/EQUf6K500x
— Flow Galindez (@FlowGalindez) March 16, 2021
Aside from the authenticity of Roque’s results, Netizens also questioned the number of times the Spokesperson has said that he has taken the test.
https://twitter.com/manalokatharine/status/1371351935337394177
“I had no less than 35 PCR tests,” he said in a media briefing on March 15.
Roque: I had no less than 35 PCR tests…It came as a surprise and shock na nagpositive ako. | @alexisbromero
LIVE: https://t.co/0aOehL3eoE
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) March 15, 2021
Despite the public’s demand for Roque to release his test results, he has declined to do so. He stated that he doesn’t understand why people would want to see it as he doesn’t think it’s important.
“Bakit naman gusto nila? I don’t understand that, but let me see if I have it. Hindi ko maintindihan why I have to show it actually.
“Anyway, I don’t think it’s important.”
He is said to be staying at an Oplan Kalinga isolation facility, however, Netizens have also accused the Spokesperson of lying about his location and asked if he was staying in a hotel suite.
Uy ang ganda ng isolation center, Atty Roque is this true? Are you covid isolated here in this suite? Walang isolation center near your barangay? Malasakit Center? None? Anyway.
Nice! Get well soon, Sir. @attyharryroque https://t.co/dtp5uqsfdN
— Gang Capati 🇵🇭 (@gangbadoy) March 16, 2021
They claimed that the background during his online briefing is “clearly hotel curtains.”
Bitch that’s clearly a hotel curtain. And a ring light? Really? https://t.co/8hlp6XQ0EU
— CeCe (@cecetographyy) March 16, 2021
Someone even accused the Spokesperson of being on a staycation.
more like staycation ata 🙄🙄🙄 https://t.co/xdPllFW0YQ
— 😎 (@healingdino) March 16, 2021
Roque stated that he hasn’t been in close contact with President Rodrigo Duterte even if he regularly attends meetings.
“I had no close contact with the President, just from afar.”
He then added that those who came into close contact with him have self-isolated.