Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III recently announced that the Philippines is now on the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak, just 4 days after the Enhanced Community Quarantine was lifted.
After facing criticisms from netizens and his fellow administration officials, Duque immediately clarified that the Philippines was still io its first big wave, but maintained that the country had already “flattened the curve.”
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that someone should be made responsible for the uncertainty created by the initial claim that the country was on its second wave.
“Sana po.”
But the decision to penalize somebody is up to the senior officials of the government.
“Hinahayaan ko na muna po iyan sa liderato ng ating pamahalaan. Tagapagsalita lamang ako.”
For Roque, the said statement from Duque caused fear and panic among citizens.
“Sa ngayon busy ako magbigay linaw na nasa first wave pa lang tayo dahil matindi yung takot at panic na dinulot ng ganyang statement na diumano ay nasa second wave na tayo.”
But will Duque be held accountable for his retracted statement?
According to the provision under the BAHO law as stated in section 6(f), acts that are punishable would include: “Individuals or groups creating, perpetuating, or spreading false information regarding the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) crisis on social media and other platforms, such information having no valid or beneficial effect on the population, and are clearly geared to promote chaos, panic, anarchy, fear, or confusion; and those participating in cyber incidents that make use or take advantage of the current crisis situation to prey on the public through scams, phishing, fraudulent emails, or other similar acts.”
In a virtual hearing, even Senator Nancy Binay said that it is upsetting that the alleged fake news came from the Secretary Department of Health, “Sobrang nakakabahala, Mr President, kung ang secretary of health na mismo ang nagpapakalat ng maling information tungkol sa COVID-19.”
But according to Malacanang, Duque should be allowed to perform his job of addressing the threat of COVID-19 in the country.
“Secretary Duque serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in this challenging time.”
