Speaker Cayetano clarifies 'fake news' remark on PPE shortage

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano clarified that he did not call all reports of personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages among health workers "fake news."

He acknowledged that there is a global shortage of PPEs but stated that some individuals falsely claimed to be lacking supplies when they were not.

Cayetano explained that spreading such misinformation could misdirect resources away from those genuinely in need and cause panic buying.

He mentioned that some individuals caught spreading these claims were found not to be health workers, or that their locations already had adequate supplies.

The Speaker emphasized the need for the Department of Health (DOH) and medical facilities to plan the allocation of available equipment.

Earlier, Cayetano had stated in a midnight speech that there was "a lot of fake news" concerning the government's COVID-19 response, including claims of PPE shortages.