Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said his statements only reflect that of President Rodrigo Duterte, after Sen. Richard Gordon criticized his comments on the coronavirus testing halt of the Philippine Red Cross due to the government’s debt.
“Big mouth don’t make a big man,” Gordon, chair of PRC, said of Roque.
“He’s spokesman of the President, the President told him pay it. What is he doing interpreting? He’s always been involving himself in PhilHealth affairs.”
Roque clarified that he was only speaking in behalf of the chief executive.
“Hindi naman po tayo naghihimasok sa issue ng PhilHealth at ng Philippine Red Cross. Kaya lang po, nagsasalita tayo sa ngalan ng ating Presidente,” Roque told reporters.
[We are not intruding on the issue of PhilHealth and the Philippine Red Cross. We are just speaking in the name of our President.]
PhilHealth had paid P500 million, or about half of its debt to the PRC on Tuesday evening. The remaining P561 million, which amounts to 160,475 tests, should be settled within 3 days, Gordon insisted.
