‘Round and Asian’ Roque responds to the use of his photo by the Thai medium

MANILA – Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Sunday that the Philippine government’s campaign against COVID-19 is effective, after a Thai media agency used his photo in its tweets.

On Saturday night, the Thai Enquirer on Twitter posted a series of reminders for its readers to follow health protocols to protect themselves from the coronavirus.

They then attached a movie clip of Roque to their tweet.

We are all in this together, so we would like to remind everyone who reads

1. Wash your hands constantly
2. Always wear a mask
3. Social distance

Listen to government announcements and don’t take unnecessary risks. # COVID-19 # COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/WfzMfbEgDw

– Thai Enquirer (@ThaiEnquirer) December 19, 2020

In a statement issued Sunday, Roque said the Thai Enquirer’s use of his photo is “encouraging” as it means that the international media has taken note of the government’s minimum health standards.

“It is encouraging that the foreign media, particularly the Thai Enquirer, have become aware of the Philippine government’s campaign promoting the minimum public health standards of wearing a mask, washing hands, and maintaining a physical distance, which which is known locally as “Mask, Hugas, I was.” He also mentioned that people should “listen to government announcements and not take unnecessary risks,” he said.

Roque also said that the tweet showed that the government’s defense campaign is effective.

“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 garnered international attention underscores the effectiveness of our message, which we articulate at each press conference and which we prominently display on the podium, by conveying that we must adhere to those health standards designed to save lives and protect communities, ”he added.

The Thai Enquirer, however, has said that they do not know the person in the photo, and simply used Roque’s .gif because it is “round and Asian.”

FROM THE ARCHIVES