MORONG, Bataan (The Adobo Chronicles, Morong Bureau) –  Health Secretary Francisco Duque has ordered the mass testing of all dolphins that came in contact with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in his visit to a marine park in Bataan on July 1.

Roque earlier said that his visit to Ocean Adventure Park in Subic, was just a “sidetrip” of an authorized trip to check on his family’s swine business and to distribute personal protective equipment to a nearby hospital.

Critics chastised Roque for sending mixed messages to the Filipino people. In all his press briefings, Roque constantly reminds everyone to wash their hands, wear a face mask and practice physical distancing as a way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“Based on photos posted on social media, Roque didn’t seem to have worn a mask nor practiced social distancing with the dolphins,” Duque said. “We don’t even know if he washed his hands before touching the dolphins,” he added.

Duque said his order for the swab testing of the dolphins is to make sure the sea creatures weren’t exposed to Covid, in case Roque was an asymptomatic carrier of the virus. The Health Secretary also ordered that the dolphins be quarantined pending the test results.