President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman had this reply on Friday to social media chatter that the chief executive's recent proof of life photo was photoshopped: "Let them be."
Tho who question the authenticity of the pictures are "the usual detractors of the Chief Executive who see nothing good in what he does," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Sen. Bong Go, Duterte's longtime aide, released the photos and fired back at critics who were questioning the President's absence from the public eye during the COVID-19 surge.
Roque said Duterte had no public event Friday for Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) because of the ECQ or lockdown that bars public gatherings. He said this would also ensure the safety of the 76-year-old leader and those around him.
In recent days, members of the Presidential Security Group, Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana and Communications Sec. Martin Andanar all tested positive for the virus.
The President’s critics are asking why President Rodrigo Duterte has no public event to commemorate Araw ng Kagitingan. Lest they forget, we are under community quarantine, where gatherings are not encouraged.
Duterte rescheduled and eventualy scrapped his weekly address to the nation last Monday. His last public appearance was during his March 29 weekly speech. Over the Holy Week, photos of his birthday fete at his house were released, also by Go.
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Duterte to Filipinos: I Would Be the Last Person to Bring You Suffering
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