Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque denies non-compliance with isolation protocols

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque denied rumors circulating on social media that he took a leisure trip to Boracay when he was supposed to be in isolation after being exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

During a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, Feb.9, Roque, who conducted the briefing from his home, addressed the question from a member of the media regarding the said trip and his COVID-19 exposure. Roque initially revealed during his Monday briefing that he was working from home because he was exposed to a member of his staff who tested positive for the coronavirus.

According to Roque, he left Manila on Friday, (Feb. 5) for a meeting in Iloilo, which lasted until Saturday, Feb. 6.

(On the same day, prior to leaving for Iloilo on Feb. 5, Roque was at the Department of Transportation’s unveiling of the cutter head of the first tunnel boring machines for the Metro Manila subway, held at the Manila North Centre Port Terminal.)

Roque said he made a side trip to Boracay, where he went scuba diving, as seen in photos and videos posted by Dive Gurus Boracay dive shop. According to the statement released by the dive shop on Monday, Roque was alone when he came to their establishment on Feb. 6 and none of his staff members were present during the dive.

(One day after Roque’s trip to Boracay, Dive Gurus posted several photos of Roque with a group of divers and thanked him for choosing its dive shop.)

Roque returned to Manila on Sunday, Feb. 7, where he said he went straight to the airport diagnostics center to have a PCR test, together with a member of his staff who picked him up at the airport. “Nakaugalian ko na rin po na lahat ng kasama kong staff ay pinapa-test ko na rin po,” the spokesperson said.

After the PCR test, Roque said he tested negative, while his staff member who picked him up tested positive.

“Yung trip po sa Visayas, wala po akong exposure doon. Hindi ko po kasama sa Visayas yung staff ko na nag-positive,” he clarified.

Meanwhile, Dive Gurus Boracay said in a statement, “We were informed that he (Roque) arrived in Manila on Feb. 7th and had a negative RT-PCR result. The staff (member) who was tested positive is based in Manila and did not join in (his) Boracay trip.”

The dive shop also said it follows safety protocols in sanitizing its dive equipment and each of its staff members adheres to the COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Roque said he was 100% compliant with the rules. “I always have a reason to go out and I always take advantage of where I am, but I never violated the rules. Sa mga kritiko ko po, pasensya na po. I am a lawyer, law professor, and 100% compliant with the rules.”

Banner image photo from The Philippine STAR’s Facebook page via News5’s Jenny Dongon