NONTHABURI, Thailand – The Philippine government has denounced the bogus story about the King of Thailand and President Duterte and has called for a moratorium on the “campaign on hate” while the Chief Executives visits Thailand.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo issued the call to the anti-Duterte forces after backing the prison term for the peddlers of a false story that the Philippine leader was told to behave by King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand during the regional summit here.
“The Office of the President expresses its indignation over this cheap political stunt aimed at embarrassing PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte), thereby humiliating our country which he represents, before the global audience,” he said.
“These raucous anti-Duterte forces should be educated that when the Head of State and the Chief Executive of the Government of the Philippines is on an official trip overseas, we set aside politics – even the bitterest one amongst foes,” he added.
Panelo added: “If this group cannot rally behind a nation’s mandated leader, as he represents not only his office but the image of the nation as a whole, it should at least observe moratorium on their campaign on hate.”
Earlier, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar branded as “fake news” an article with the title “King orders PH Duterte, behave during ASEAN summit” that was allegedly published by the Bangkok Post.
Andanar said he would ask the National Bureau of Investigation to track down the culprit of the bogus story. (Genalyn Kabiling)
