MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday derided Magdalo Partylist Rep. Gary Alejano for seemingly becoming a “purveyor of fake news” due to his latest claims regarding President Rodrigo Duterte’s upcoming visit to Israel.
The opposition lawmaker has earlier said that the President’s trip to Israel had something to do with his health.
“Unang-una, in a state visit, bawat galaw mo tinitingnan eh. So whether a doctor goes to him or he goes to a hospital, hindi mo masisikreto iyon (First and foremost, in a state visit, all your activities are being monitored. So whether a doctor goes to him or he goes to a hospital, you cannot keep that a secret),” Cayetano said in an interview with Senate reporters.
“So I don’t know, if because gustung-gusto niyang maging senador, nagiging purveyor na siya ng fake news. But ang layo talaga (So I don’t know, if it’s because of his desire to become a senator, he is becoming a purveyor of fake news. It is really far-fetched),” he added.
The Cabinet official also chided Alejano for believing anything that a supposed “source” is relaying to him.
“Siguro kung dito ka nawala, and then nag-speculate ka na baka nagpapagamot, baka nagkasakit, pwede mo pang sabihin na naniwala ka sa bubwit mo. Di ba may nag-inform sayo kahit mali (Maybe if you disappear here and you speculate that maybe he is seeking treatment, maybe he is ill, maybe you can claim that you believe your source. Isn’t it that somebody informed you even if it’s false)?” he said.
“Pero yung magsabi sa iyong may state visit, with full entourage and a full schedule, tapos sasabihin mong ano (But if somebody told you that there is a state visit with full entourage and a full schedule, and then you will say what).. The President has never kept things about his health. Kung may iniinda siya or may nararamdaman siya, sasabihin niya (If he feels something or he feels ill, he will say it),” Cayetano said.
Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go earlier said Alejano and Senator Antonio Trillanes are welcome to join the President in his trip to Israel if they doubt the reason for his official visit.
“Pwede naman siyang sumama. He is a congressman. Kung talagang magpa-checkup ang ating Pangulo, sumama na lang sila ni Mr. Trillanes at magpa-checkup sila ng mga ulo nila (He is welcome to join. He is a congressman. If the President is really going to have a medical checkup there, he and Mr. Trilanes can have their heads checked),” Go said in an interview. (PNA)
