From straight out of left field, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque denied on Tuesday night, Sept. 7 any relation to a man in a TikTok video who called him his "biological dad".
"The video post showing a man who claims that I am his biological father is a desperate attempt to discredit me in the eyes of the citizenry," Roque said in a statement sent to Malacañang beat reporters.
"We expect political trolls to work overtime in their vicious attacks as we enter the campaign season. This is nothing but an election black propaganda," the Palace official said.
The particular TikTok video had over 11,000 likes as of posting time. The uploader, @pulpolitika, has over 25,000 followers.
WATCH HERE: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSJwhGrGM/
The TikTok account's content centers on poking fun at administration figures in connection with current political topics.
"I have two children and anyone who claims should file an appropriate action in court so I may disprove the same," underscored Roque.
The man in the video can be described as having the same round face as Roque, as well as similar hairline. But then again, these are common features that are shared by a lot of people, Filipino or otherwise.
The man claiming to be Roque's son said he was disappointed at the spokesperson over his response to Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso's appeal to the national government to ramp up the purchase of supposed anti-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) drugs.
Roque had dismissed Moreno's appeal and accompanying criticism of the Duterte administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic as political posturing ahead of the May 2022 national elections.
"I'm disappointed, OK. Na-disappoint ako doon sa sagot ng aking biological dad, si Spokesperson Harry Roque doon po sa panawagan ni Yorme Isko na bumili ng Tocilizumab tsaka ng Remdesivir (I was disappointed by what my biological dad, Spokesperson Harry Roque, said about Yorme Isko's appeal to buy Tocilizumab and Remdesivir)," the man said with no hesitation.
"Alam niyo wala namang kaso yung iba-bash niyo kami, yung hihiritan niyo kami. Pero sana, sana makinig doon sa panawagan. Kasi ito yung kailangan ngayon ng tao (You it's OK for you to bash us and troll us. But I hope you listen to the appeal. Because this is what the people need).
"Sa totoo lang (In truth), Spox Harry, daddy, it's meant to save lives. Yun po yun (that's it), I think that's more important," he said.
"With regard to the shortage in Tocilizumab and Remdesivir," Roque said in response to the man's remarks, "there is a current global supply problem due to the rising active cases and our health officials are looking for alternate treatment drugs for COVID-19."