Only Roque, DOH’s Vergeire authorized to speak for gov’t on COVID-19 matters — Medialdea

Only presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire are authorized to speak for the government on COVID-19 matters, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Thursday. 

Medialdea did not state the reason for the change in communications strategy. Roque also told reporters that he was not privy to the decision.

Prior to the directive, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles had been giving almost daily briefings in his capacity as spokesperson for the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The IATF is the government’s policymaking body regarding the Philippines’ response to the deadly pandemic.

“I defer to the construction of Secretary Nograles on the memo,” Roque said.

Roque rejoined the Cabinet on April 13. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News