Total nationwide lockdown not an option – Andanar

SEC. MARTIN ANDANAR PCOO

NEWS CORNER

Total nationwide lockdown not an option – Andanar

“Wala po ‘yan sa lamesa. ‘Yan po ang pinakamalaking fake news, so far, na narinig ko for the last 14 days (That’s not on the table. That is the biggest fake news I’ve heard of, so far, for the last 14 days),” he told Brigada News FM.

“May araw din ‘yang mga nagpapakalat ng fake news. Mahuhuli din yung mga ‘yan at once mahuli ‘yang mga ‘yan, talagang masasampolan ‘yan ng ating Philippine National Police (Their day will come, those fake news peddlers. They will be arrested and once they are, the PNP will give them what they deserve),” he added.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar debunked reports that the entire country will be placed under a total lockdown for the next two weeks, saying a total lockdown was not even on the table to begin with.

Reports circulated online that President Duterte has approved the recommendation to declare a total nationwide lockdown which would mean the closure of establishments, and turning over the control of society’s day-to-day operations to the military.

In a radio interview, Andanar said the lockdown rumor was the most absurd story he has heard ever since the Luzon-wide enhanced community Andanar reminded fake news peddlers that their actions have consequences under the AntiCybercrime law and under the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act that penalizes them a fine of at least P10,000 to P1 million or two-month jail time.

The Palace official likewise told fake news peddlers that what they were doing was only making the situation worse.

“Tigilan na natin ito sapagkat hindi nakakatulong. Mahirap na nga ang stiwasyon (Stop this because you’re not helping. The situation is already difficult as it is),” Andanar said.

“Hindi madali, lahat po apektado… Hindi ho talaga normal (It’s not easy, everyone is affected. It’s not normal). What we’re experiencing now

is the new normal. Economic activity is close to zero,” he added.

“Maraming mga negosyong apektado, maraming nawalan ng trabaho. Tapos magpapakalat ka pa ng fake news, tatakutin mo pa ang tao. Ano’ng klaseng tao ka kung ganyan ang pag-uugali mo (A lot of businesses are affected and a lot lost their jobs. Then you’ll spread fake news to scare the people. What kind of a person are you with that kind of attitude)?” he continued.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar and Undersecretary Raquel ‘Rocky’ Ignacio host the #LagingHandaPH Public Briefing, an inter-agency effort of the PCOO that brings up-to-date and detailed information about the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The program embraces a whole-of-a-nation approach wherein guest resource persons from key agencies directly answer queries from the public across different regions throughout the Philippines. They provide updates on the current situation and the efforts being undertaken in mitigating the spread of the disease in the country.

It is aired thru the People’s Television Network, Inc. (PTV), Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS), 738 kHz Radyo Pilipinas 1 (RP1) AM station, Presidential Communications and Radio-Television Malacañang (RTVM) Facebook pages, and the attached agencies’ social media platforms.