Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo denied a viral meme about him siding with China over the Recto Bank hit-and-run incident.
In a statement Monday, June 17, Panelo strongly dismissed the attached social media card, where he have been purportedly quoted, as hoax.
“This meme puts me, as well as the Office of the President, in a bad light as we are placed in a position which suggests that we are siding with the Chinese anent the incident of allision in the West Philippine Sea,” said Panelo.
“There is no official record that would show that I have issued such a statement. Once again, this is a crude and malicious attempt fabricated by the enemies of the State to discredit the Administration,” he added.