Thread by @rapplerdotcom

NOW: Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque holds his regular Malacañang briefing. | via @ramboreports

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Roque: Habang dumadami naman ang kaso ng COVID, dumadami rin ang mga nagrerecover.

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Roque explains lifting the lockdown mid-April would have increased the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

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Roque says Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas lowered the reserve requirements of banks by 2%.

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DSWD distributed a total of 401,301 family food packs as of April 15.

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Roque on use of rapid testing kits for people meeting with #PresidentDuterte: We make no apologies for the fact that we are protecting the life of the President. | via @ramboreports

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Roque on Marikina testing center: Ang gusto lang makita ng DOH ay mayroong enough safeguards. At the same time, nakikiisa ang Presidente sa lahat ng initiatives ng LGUs.

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Roque hopes DILG will mediate between DOH and Marikina local government.

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Roque: Andami pong pasaway sa atin. Dahil po diyan, number 1 na naman tayo sa ASEAN. Nakakahiya po yan.

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Roque: Maging homeliners po tayong lahat. Mga nanay, kayo na ang magenforce nitong ECQ sa inyong mga tahanan. Mabuti po yun, pag inenforce niyo yan, ‘di makakabisita si mister sa kanyang kulasisi.

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Roque: We have started our mass testing only recently. Totoo naman po compared to other countries na medyo nahuli po tayo diyan, but it is now underway.

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Roque stated reports about a total lockdown are "fake news" in a previous press briefing. Today, he says, "Pero hindi po fake news na kinokonsider ang total lockdown, lalong-lalo na kung magpapatuloy ang mga pasaway sa kalsada."

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Roque: Mga NPA, lahat ng oposisyon, lahat ng kalaban ng gobyerno, isantabi muna ang politika ngayong mayroon tayong krisis na umiiral sa ating bayan.

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Roque: Pati po sa larangan ng human rights law, hindi po absolute ang freedom of expression. Mayroon pong hangganan yan. A state can derogate [freedom of expression] among others, kapag mayroong national emergency.

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Roque on finding a cure to COVID-19: Inaasahan natin dahil BFF naman tayo ng China, pag sila magkaroon ng gamot na ganyan, eh unahan naman nila tayo.

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Roque on local governments violating quarantine guidelines: May kapangyarihan po ang Presidente na parusahan ang mga mayor at mga barangay captain na nagiging pabaya.

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