(Eagle News)–The Palace on Thursday, April 2, slammed as malicious reports saying Administrative Order No. 27 was issued to allow Senator Bong Go to manage the donations consolidated by the Office of the Civil Defense so he can be given credit for the same.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo also slammed as “untrue” information that said the importation of medical and health items into the country meant for donation are being put on hold at the Bureau of Customs until Go places his name on the packages prior to their release and distribution.
According to Panelo, in the first place, Go “has no access to the OCD.”
“And even if he has, by reason of his position, he will not interfere with the task of the OCD, such interference being out of his character. Nor will Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana allow an intrusion from the outside regarding the work of the (OCD),” Panelo said, noting that Go “has his own group of friends who are giving and receiving donations, and delivering them straight to their intended beneficiaries.”
He said the BOC on the other hand “is doubling its efforts in order to fast-track the entry of donated items so that it may reach health facilities with dispatch.”
Panelo said Administrative Order No. 27 was only “meant to streamline the process of donations to the national government in order that health items may timely reach the intended facilities and beneficiaries.”
He said it does not prohibit private organizations and individuals from receiving or giving donations to hospitals of their choice, as well as to their local government units.
Panelo said they are in fact “encouraged as every help from all sectors are welcome.”
“The spread of these fake information is malicious and obviously done by the negative forces and detractors of the Duterte administration and its allies designed to create confusion and foment hate against the government,” Panelo said.
He urged the public to “be circumspect in reading text messages or posts they see in their social media feeds.”
“Re-posting or spreading them by word of mouth make them similarly liable for transgression of the law,” he said.
“Let us all unite, not only in action and prayers in defeating this faceless enemy, but also in nipping in the bud any false news or bogus narrative from spreading,” he added.
