The pandemic finally reached its anniversary in the Philippines today, March 15. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque then has announced during a press briefing that he tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
“As of 11:29 this morning, nakuha ko po ang resulta na positibo po ako para sa COVID,” announced Roque.
His being diagnosed with one gave the most accurate answer to his claim—the Philippines, on the contrary, did not do an excellent job.
As a result, several celebrities and netizens took a moment to react to this announcement of Roque.
ABS-CBN actress Agot Isidro, who also did not believe the claim of Roque from the start, wrote to Twitter that she wants verification if the Secretary actually got infected. The actress wanted Roque to share his latest RT-PCR test result in order for the public to acknowledge that he indeed is telling the truth.
With the spokesperson known for fabrications, Twitter personality Carl Del Rosario shared a photo of Roque being in close contact with President Duterte while he denied that he maintained his distance to the highest official of the country.
https://twitter.com/bacarldi/status/1371376076157415428?s=21
With Roque being positive for Covid, the #DutertePalpak trended over Twitter as the result of the false claims that he blurted.
Journalist Teddy Casiño even used the hashtag to stress that the government really failed in its fight against the coronavirus.
#DutertePalpak. What else is there to say? https://t.co/toBH6O07sH
— Teddy Casiño (@teddycasino) March 15, 2021
A netizen even ridiculed the basis of the government’s excellence. According to the netizen, the government’s criteria for excellence is the failing economy, the rising inflation, the shady and delayed pandemic response, and the growing debt without transparency.
https://twitter.com/kylev__wf/status/1371438773486034944
And with Roque insisting that the government performed excellently in handling the pandemic, a netizen even pointed out that the Secretary being positive, cannot defend the claim anymore.
https://twitter.com/issaandonly/status/1371436307944144902
Earlier, Roque was discovered that he came to his office despite the fact that he was positive for Covid-19. With his insensitivity, Kapamilya broadcaster Karen Davila reiterated Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate’s description of Roque: the ultimate example of pasaway.
Did Sec Harry Roque, a government official, really do this? After knowing he had COVID, still went to his office?
COVID-19-positive Roque is ‘ultimate example of pasaway’, says Zarate https://t.co/4zpcDIJZqz
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) March 15, 2021
A netizen also took a jab at Roque for being inconsiderate to his employees by coming to work after testing positive.
Pero pumunta pa din ng opisina kahit positive at mag photo op na nagttrabaho. Inconsiderate ka sa ibang tao ser? Wew https://t.co/JhYxbi84vI
— Jazer T. (@jzrtocalo) March 15, 2021
Twitter personality Francis Baraan IV wrote a satirical post regarding the spokesperson.
Baraan wrote, “Harry Roque says he will stay positive despite his Covid-19 diagnosis. Yes Please!”
https://twitter.com/MrFrankBaraan/status/1371338167375126529
Now that the one claiming that the country excellently managed the pandemic, a netizen thought that its karma getting its presence felt. With this news, the netizen wrote that the world is finally healing after Roque being positive of Covid-19.
The rise in recent cases is the result of your mismanagement. Don’t blame this on the people who’ve done everything they can to survive.#DutertePalpak https://t.co/mRNK6qY2lm
— miguel (@jm_lago) March 15, 2021
As of today, the Philippines has reached over 621,000 cases of the Wuhan virus, with an additional 4,887 cases recorded this Monday. Meanwhile, the total number of recoveries has reached 561,000 with 63 deaths recorded, reaching up to 12,829.
