ROUND AND ASIAN

My GIF speaks well of Philippine COVID-19 campaign –Roque

Despite the Thai Enquirer's clarification that it had no idea who Harry Roque Jr. was, the presidential spokesperson claimed that the foreign publication's use of a GIF of him shows that the Philippine government's campaign against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had gained overseas attention.

The Thai Enquirer -- an online news portal based in Thailand -- posted a GIF of Roque with the government's campaign to wear a mask, wash hands, and keep distance on Saturday, December 19, 2020.

"It is encouraging that foreign media, particularly Thai Enquirer, has taken notice of the Philippine government's Minimum Public Health Standards Advocacy Campaign of wearing a face mask, washing of hands, and maintaining a physical distance, which is known locally as 'Mask, Hugas, Iwas'," Roque said in a statement on Sunday.

"Indeed, COVID-19 knows no borders, as the Thai news website succinctly puts it, 'We’re all in this together.' The fact that the Philippine government’s advocacy campaign has caught international attention underscores how effective our message is – which we articulate in every press briefing and which we prominently display on the podium -- in conveying that we must adhere to such health standards aimed at saving lives and protecting the communities," he added.

In a follow-up tweet, however, the Thai Enquirer denied knowing who Roque was and that the publication only used the GIF because of his shape and ethnicity.

The Philippines on Sunday reported 1,754 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 to bring the total tally to 459,789. This includes 429,134 recoveries and 8,947 deaths. — DVM, GMA News