Roque says sorry to Duterte over ‘perpetual isolation’ remark

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday publicly apologized to President Rodrigo Duterte after claiming that the Chief Executive had been in “perpetual isolation” to protect himself against COVID-19.

Roque admitted that he had a “wrong choice of words” in describing the measures taken by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to ensure the physical well-being of the 75-year-old leader.

“I’d like to publicly apologize to the President for past mistakes I had last Monday lalung-lalo na po doon po sa sinabi kong perpetual isolation,” Roque said in a televised briefing in connection with his remarks during the news conference on August 17.

“Wrong choice of words po pero what I meant only was the Presidential Security Group has been doing a good job at ensuring that there is social distancing between anyone who wants to talk to the President. Pasensya po.”

Roque is expected to join the President and other Cabinet officials in a meeting in Davao City later Monday.

The Palace official said he tested negative for COVID-19 following a swab test.

Roque earlier went into self-isolation after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who was with the Palace spokesperson in a meeting with the President in Davao on August 10, revealed that he tested positive again for the virus. — RSJ, GMA News