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Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque believes the person who leaked a video of his outburst at health experts during a pandemic task force meeting violated the law.

Asked on Monday, September 13, if the one who leaked the video should be held liable for violating the Data Privacy Act and anti-wiretapping law, Roque replied in the affirmative.

“Sa tingin ko po liable at liable din po for revealing public secrets, pero hahayaan ko na po ‘yan sa IATF at ‘yan naman po ay napag-usapan sa IATF,” said Roque, referring to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

(I think they’re liable and they’re also liable for revealing public secrets, but I will leave that to the IATF and that was discussed by the IATF.)

Roque likely meant “state secrets” when he mentioned a law penalizing a person who reveals “public secrets.”

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Lawyer Ted Te, however, said that if Roque were aware he was being recorded, the release of the video cannot be considered a violation of the anti-wiretapping law.

There could be other problems about the other laws mentioned.

“The outburst isn’t a state secret so it won’t fall into that violation either. It’s also not sensitive information under the data privacy law,” said Te.

The Inquirer got hold of the Roque video which appeared to be a scene from an online meeting that was then recorded on video by someone holding their smartphone in front of a computer showing the meeting.

It was a government meeting and involved public officials and private health experts. However, this is not to be confused with President Rodrigo Duterte’s meetings with pandemic task force officials, parts of which are broadcast to the public.

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‘Arrogance, ego, anger’: Netizens slam Roque’s outburst vs healthcare workers

In the video, Roque was making an emotional argument against health experts’ recommendation that Metro Manila be placed under another two-week lockdown. The topic has been heavily debated in public by different sectors and officials.

The Duterte spokesman has apologized for the “manner” of his outburst but said he was not sorry for what he actually said. – Rappler.com