Malacañang advised the public to be wary of people who are out to sabotage the Duterte administration especially during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after some netizens attributed the recent fish kill at the Manila Bay to the controversial white sand beach project of the DENR.
In his press briefing, Roque said that while it was too early to say that it was sabotage, he could not help but wonder how freshwater fish ended up in saltwater.
"Well, hindi ko po alam kung mayroon ngang sabotahe, pinag-aaralan pa po iyan (I can't say if there really was sabotage. It's still being looked at)," he said.
"Pero ang nakapagtataka nga, bakit ang tilapia, freshwater fish iyong nakarating sa Manila Bay. Parang imposible naman iyon (But I'm wondering how tilapia, a freshwater fish, ended up at Manila Bay. That's quite impossible)," he added.
He, however, reminded the public that there are people out to get the Duterte administration.
"Ingat-ingat lang po tayo sa panahon ngayon desperado po ang kalaban ng gobyerno, lahat po ginagawa para siraan si Presidente Duterte (Let's be careful because the government's enemies are now growing desperate. They will do everything to ruin the reputation of the President)," he said.
The Palace official, meanwhile, thanked the public for its continued support to the Duterte administration despite criticisms hurled at the government during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Nagpapasalamat po kami kahit anong sabihin nila, kahit anong gawin nila, nagtitiwala pa rin po ang sambayanang Pilipino kay Presidente Duterte (We are thankful because no matter what critics are saying, you still trust President Duterte)," Roque said.
Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said that either sabotage or illegal fishing might be the cause of the recent fish kill at the Manila Bay. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), however, explained that the fish kill was a result of low oxygen levels in the sea.