Nagbigay ng pahayag si Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque tungkol sa isang tweet na ipinost ng isang Thai website na ginamit ang kanyang larawan upang paalalahanan ang publiko na manatiling ligtas sa panahon ng Covid-19 pandemic.

Sa isang mensahe noong Linggo, sinabi na Roque na “encouraging” para sa kanya na nabibigyang pansin ng foreign media ang adbokasiya ng pamahalaan para labanan ang Covid-19.

“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.’ It likewise mentioned that people must listen to government announcements and not take unnecessary risks,” paliwanag ni Roque.

Nag-post ang Thai Enquirer ng GIF ni Roque noong Sabado kung saan makikita itong nakatayo sa isang podium habang nagsasalita sa isang briefing. Ang mensaheng “wear mask, wash hands, keep distance” ay nakapaskil din sa nasabing animated image.

“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,” dagdag pa ni Roque.

Noong Linggo, ibinunyag naman ng Thai Enquirer staff na hindi nila kilala kung sino ang taong nasa likod GIF.

Aniya, “We used the GIF because he’s round and Asian!!”