Malacañang said it was the use of the Filipino version of a popular musical theater song that prompted President Duterte's remark on the medical health workers' supposed "revolution" when the latter only called for a time out from the war against COVID-19.

President Duterte on Sunday evening criticized the health workers for going public with their sentiment, saying that they were making it appear that the government was doing nothing to address the pandemic.

In an interview with Teleradyo, formerly DZMM, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President's remarks were sparked by the Filipino version of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" from the longest-running West End musical "Les Miserables."

The video went viral after lawmakers from the House of Representatives denied ABS-CBN's application for a new franchise.

"Meron po kasi parang kumakalat na kanta ng rebolusyon na pinangungunahan po ng mga kritiko ng gobyerno. So, yun po yun (There was a song about revolution that went viral and it was led by critics of the government)," Roque said Monday.

"May isa pong revolutionary song galing pong (There is a revolutionary song from) 'Les Miserables,'" he added.

Roque added that President Duterte was wondering why he was the last to find out about the demands of the medical community.

"Bagama't binigay po niya ang ninanais ng mga frontliners, nagtataka siya, bakit (Even though he already gave everything the frontliners are asking for, he wondered why) he was the last to know about the demand," he said.

"Dumating sa kanya ang liham, alas kwatro ng hapon. Pero a las diyes ng umaga, nagkaroon ng public webinar. And the day before, may request pa for media coverage. At saka yung liham mismo kay Presidente the day before, kalat na bago pa dumating sa Presidente (The letter reached him at 4 p.m. but at 10 a.m., they already had the public webinar. There was a request for media coverage the day before. The letter that was addressed to him the day before already went viral before it reached him)," he added.

In his Monday presser, Roque explained that another factor that led to President Duterte's remarks was Senator Franklin Drilon calling the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases a failure which he claimed was supported by Vice President Leni Robredo.

In his public address on Sunday, President Duterte told health workers that they should have just written a letter to him or asked for an audience instead of going public and making people think that they are in agony.

He told the medical frontliners that they cannot scare him with a revolution but if they think that is the answer to the problem, they should go ahead and start one.

The medical community on Saturday expressed their concerns over the government's efforts to address the pandemic, saying that they are already tired and called for 'time-out' by requesting for Mega Manila to be placed back under the enhanced community quarantine.

It was never stated in their letter that they will stage a revolution.

Celebrities and known critics of the administration used the popular "Les Miserables" song to show support for ABS-CBN. It was also used as a song of protest on the days leading to---and the day itself--- President Duterte's fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week.