Harry Roque

Presidential Spokesperson. 50 claims checked by other fact-checking organisations, from 2020 to 2025. The ratings are theirs, in their own words.

Checked by Vera Files5 Jul 2021Philippines Elections

Harry Roque

“President Rodrigo Duterte had consistently supported the potential bid of his daughter, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio of Davao City, to run for president in the May 2022 elections, but that she did not want to.”

Vera Files rated this: False

Vera Files says: Contrary to the claim of Palace Spokesman Harry Roque, Duterte explicitly said in at least two recent speeches that he had dissuaded his daughter from seeking the presidency in 2022. Duterte-Carpio herself belied Roque’…

Checked by Vera Files22 Jun 2021Philippines Crime and security

Harry Roque

“Communist leader Jose Maria "Joma" Sison was among those who filed a communication to the International Criminal Court regarding the killings under President Duterte's war on drugs.”

Vera Files rated this: No basis

Vera Files says: The ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) does not disclose publicly the identity of persons, groups or states that submitted a communication, citing their “safety, well being and privacy,” according to its policy paper on…

Checked by Vera Files22 Jun 2021Philippines Politics and government

Harry Roque

“Only President Duterte among the country's leaders has given the Navy two modern frigates to protect the Philippine territorial waters.”

Vera Files rated this: Needs context

Vera Files says: While the two brand new frigates from South Korea were delivered during the Duterte administration, the acquisition process began in 2013, under the Aquino presidency.

Checked by Vera Files22 Jun 2021PhilippinesFilipino

Harry Roque

“Si Jose Maria "Joma" Sison, lider ng mga komunista sa bansa, ay kabilang sa nagsumite ng komunikasyon sa International Criminal Court hinggil sa mga nangyaring pagpatay sa giyera kontra droga ni Pangulong Duterte.”

Vera Files rated this: Walang batayan

Vera Files says: Ang ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) ay hindi isinisiwalat sa publiko ang pagkakakilanlan ng mga tao, grupo o estado na nagsumite ng komunikasyon, para sa kanilang “safety, well being at privacy," ayon sa policy paper…

Checked by Vera Files22 Jun 2021PhilippinesFilipino

Harry Roque

“Si Pangulong Duterte lamang sa mga naging pinuno ng bansa ang nakapagbigay sa Navy ng dalawang modernong frigates para protektahan ang territorial waters ng Pilipinas.”

Vera Files rated this: Kailangan ng konteksto

Vera Files says: Habang ang dalawang bagong frigates mula sa South Korea ay naihatid sa panahon ng administrasyong Duterte, nagsimula ang proseso ng pagbili noong 2013, sa ilalim ng pagkapangulo ni Aquino.

Checked by Vera Files18 Jun 2021PhilippinesFilipino

Harry Roque

“Sinabi ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque na reckless imprudence ang mas higit na angkop na kasong kriminal na maisasampa laban sa mga lumalabag sa quarantine kaysa murder.”

Vera Files rated this: Flip-flop

Vera Files says: Sa isang public hearing isang araw bago ang pangyayari, sinabi ni Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo na ang mga indibidwal na nahawahan ng COVID-19 na tumangging mag quarantine at dahil dito ay nakahawa an…

Checked by Vera Files6 Jun 2021PhilippinesFilipino

Harry Roque

“Ang pagsusuot ng face mask at face shield ay nagbibigay ng parehong proteksyon sa COVID-19 tulad ng pagpapabakuna.”

Vera Files rated this: Hindi totoo

Vera Files says: "Hindi maaaring ipantay" ang proteksyon mula sa pagsusuot ng face mask at face shield sa pagpapabakuna laban sa COVID-19, sinabi ni Dr. Anthony Leachon, dating special adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19…

Checked by Vera Files6 Jun 2021Philippines Health

Harry Roque

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

Vera Files rated this: False

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…

Checked by Vera Files3 Jun 2021PhilippinesFilipino

Harry Roque

“Nagboluntaryo si Vice President Leni Robredo na sumama kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa isang infomercial upang makatulong na mapalakas ang kumpiyansa ng publiko sa bakuna laban sa COVID-19.”

Vera Files rated this: Hindi totoo

Vera Files says: Taliwas sa pahayag ni Palace Spokesman Harry Roque, si Robredo ay hindi nagboluntaryo, ngunit nagpahayag lamang ng kahandaan na lumabas sa isang COVID-19 infomercial kasama si Duterte bilang tugon sa panukala ni Sen. Jo…

Checked by Vera Files3 Jun 2021Philippines Health

Harry Roque

“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 rated this: False

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…

Checked by Vera Files6 May 2021Philippines

Harry Roque, Presidential Spokesperson

“Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. apologized to the Chinese ambassador for his strongly-worded tweets over China's occupation of disputed areas within the West Philippine Sea.”

Vera Files rated this: False

Vera Files says: Locsin said he apologized only to his “friend” and counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and “nobody else.”

Checked by Vera Files6 May 2021PhilippinesFilipino

Harry Roque

“Humingi ng paumanhin si Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. sa Chinese ambassador dahil sa kanyang matatapang na mga tweet tungkol sa pananakop ng China sa mga pinagtatalunang lugar sa West Philippine Sea.”

Vera Files rated this: Hindi totoo

Vera Files says: Sinabi ni Locsin na humihingi lamang siya ng paumanhin sa kanyang "kaibigan" at counterpart na si Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, at "wala nang iba."

Checked by Vera Files24 Apr 2021PhilippinesFilipino

Harry Roque, Presidential Spokesperson

“Walang katotohanan sa haka-haka na may ‘verbal fishing agreement’ umano sa pagitan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte at Pangulong Xi Jin Ping, na hinimok ang mga barkong Tsino na manatili sa West Philippine Sea sa kabila ng mga diplomatic protest at matinding mga pahayag ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas. Ito ay walang batayan at simpleng haka-haka.”

Vera Files rated this: Flip-flop

Vera Files says: Mismong ang pangulo ang nagsabi sa isang talumpati noong Hunyo 2019 na "syempre" papayagan niya ang mga Chinese national na mangisda sa loob ng katubigan ng Pilipinas. Sinabi niya na ito ang kanyang "kasunduan" kay Chin…

Checked by Vera Files25 Mar 2021PhilippinesFilipino

Harry Roque

“Ang Pilipinas ay ika-133 sa global ranking ng mga kaso bawat milyon (populasyon).”

Vera Files rated this: Hindi totoo

Vera Files says: Ang Pilipinas ay ika-110 (noong Marso 11, 2021) at ika-109 (noong Marso 12, 2021) sa mga bansa na may kabuuang mga kaso ng COVID-19 bawat milyong populasyon, batay sa COVID-19 dashboard ng Our World In Data.

Checked by Vera Files25 Mar 2021Philippines

Harry Roque

“The Philippines was 133rd in the global ranking of cases per million (population).”

Vera Files rated this: False

Vera Files says: The Philippines ranked 110th (as of March 11, 2021) and 109th (as of March 12, 2021) among countries with total COVID-19 cases per million population, based on Our World In Data’s COVID-19 dashboard.

Checked by Vera Files19 Feb 2021PhilippinesFilipino

Harry Roque

“Ang Singapore ay nakapagbakuna lamang ng 1.98% ng populasyon nito laban sa COVID-19 hanggang Peb. 2.”

Vera Files rated this: Hindi totoo

Vera Files says: Sinimulan ang vaccination drive gamit ang Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 jabs noong Dis. 30, 2020, ang Singapore, noong Peb. 1, ay nakapagsimula nang magbakuna ng una sa dalawang dosis sa "higit sa 155,000 mga indibidwal," o …

Checked by Vera Files19 Feb 2021Philippines Health

Harry Roque

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

Vera Files rated this: False

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…

Checked by Vera Files30 Jan 2021PhilippinesFilipino

Harry Roque

“Ang kasunduan ng gobyerno sa Chinese firm na Sinovac tungkol sa pagbili ng mga COVID-19 vaccine ay isa nang "done deal.”

Vera Files rated this: Flip-flop

Vera Files says: Kahit na binding na obligayson na ang term sheet ng gobyerno at ng Sinovac, "hindi pa pinal" ang agreement.

Checked by Vera Files30 Jan 2021Philippines Health

Harry Roque

“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 rated this: Flip flop

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

Checked by Vera Files25 Jan 2021PhilippinesFilipino

Harry Roque

“Ang CoronaVac ay mayroong 91.25% efficacy rate sa Indonesia.”

Vera Files rated this: Hindi totoo

Vera Files says: Ang efficacy rate ng CoronaVac sa Indonesia ay 65.3%.