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“Harry Roque authored the Universal Health Care Law.”

Vera Files says: House Bill No. 5784 filed in the 17th Congress was co-authored by 116 representatives, including Roque. The Senate version of the health measure was sponsored by 13 senators.

“Wearing face mask and face shield provides the same protection from COVID-19 as getting inoculated with the vaccine.”

Vera Files says: One “cannot equate” the protection from wearing face mask and face shield to that of getting COVID-19 vaccines, said physician Anthony Leachon, former special adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19. These p…

“Vice President Leni Robredo volunteered to appear with President Rodrigo Duterte in an infomercial to help boost public confidence in the vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).”

Vera Files says: Contrary to the claim of Palace Spokesman Harry Roque, Vice President Leni Robredo did not volunteer but only expressed willingness to appear in a COVID-19 vaccine infomercial with President Duterte in response to a pro…

“Singapore has vaccinated only 1.98% of its population against COVID-19 as of Feb. 2.”

Vera Files says: Having started its vaccination drive using Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 jabs on Dec. 30, 2020, Singapore, as of Feb. 1, has inoculated with the first of two doses “more than 155,000 individuals,” or about 2.73% of its alm…

“Only 3 Asian countries have rolled out COVID-19 vaccine”

FactRakers says: 13 countries in Asia have launched their vaccination campaign

“The Philippine government's term sheet agreement for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines from China-firm Sinovac is a "binding obligation" that is already a "done deal.”

Vera Files says: Although a term sheet agreement is already a binding obligation, the agreement is "not yet final."

“Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the poor have no right to be fussy in picking the COVID-19 vaccine brand they will receive from the government”

“COVID-19 vaccination will reduce virus carriers”

FactRakers says: Clinical trials did not test whether the vaccines would block viral transmission

“The government already has a list specifying the individuals who will be prioritized for the COVID-19 vaccines.”

Vera Files says: Health Undersecretary and Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said there is no final list specifying the names of individuals who will be prioritized for the COVID-19 vaccines. She said the department "will not be able …

“Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque claims that the Duterte administration deserves an 85 percent rating for effective COVID-19 response because it managed to minimize the number of deaths and infection, owing primarily for being the first country in Southeast Asia to impose a lockdown.”

Vera Files says: Vietnam was the first country in Southeast Asia to close its borders on Jan. 23. President Duterte declared a travel ban on all visitors from Hubei province only on Jan. 31, and expanded it to cover the whole of China a…

“Philippines' COVID-19 testing policy best in Asia, probably in the world”

FactRakers says: China, 5 other Asian countries have run more tests than the Philippines

“Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said 10 million COVID-19 cases in the Philippines “will not be a loss” even if 10,000 people die.”

“Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque did not violate any health and quarantine protocols during his visit to the Ocean Adventure park.”

Vera Files says: Photos of Roque's "side trip" showed the spokesman not wearing a mask while speaking to park employees, and sitting directly beside one of them as he pet a dolphin.

“India ranked first in in the Western Pacific region in terms of COVID-19 cases per million population, followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Singapore, then the Philippines.”

Vera Files says: The data presented were the total number of cases, not cases per million population, of the countries mentioned.