President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is accompanied by Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul upon his arrival at the Royal Thai Air Force Base in Bangkok, Thailand on November 1, 2019. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Intrigue seems to have started even before President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Bangkok yesterday as Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar slammed purveyors of “fake news” who were believed responsible for a blatantly altered front page of a Bangkok broadsheet that made it appear that Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn was ordering Mr. Duterte to “behave” during the 35th Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) Summit.

Andanar, who is currently in Thailand, vehemently denied that the King gave such a directive to the President.

He made the statement after the allegedly manipulated front page of news outfit Bangkok Post, with a headline “King orders PH Duterte behave during Asean summit,” circulated on social media.

In a video uploaded by the PCOO Global Media Affairs, Andanar showed the real copy of the Bangkok Post to prove that the photo circulating online was “fake.”

“Some malicious people are spreading fake news by claiming that the King allegedly told President Duterte to behave,” he said.

“But what’s written here is different from the viral photo. See, the issue here is about the 5G cellphone. So, it’s really obvious that the claim is fake news,” Andanar added.

Duterte’s participation in the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Summits in Bangkok, Thailand on 2 to 4 November will push through, despite the series of earthquakes that shook Mindanao.

Andanar said people should stop propagating fake news, especially when it involves Thailand’s king as he noted that it may affect the relations between Manila and Bangkok.

“Let us not spread such fake news. It can affect the bilateral relations between the two countries,” the PCOO chief said.

Andanar also warned that anyone who attempts to taint the King’s reputation can land in jail for 15 years, citing Thailand’s Lèse majesté law.

Article 112 of Thailand’s Lèse majesté law or criminal code states that a person who “defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent” will be punished with a jail term up to 15 years.

“When you spread fake news like that using the name of the King in Bangkok, Thailand, you will be sent to jail for 15 years because of their Lèse majesté law,” he said.

“When you defame the revered King, you will land straight in jail,” Andanar added.

Mr. Duterte will remain on top of the situation monitoring the state of affairs in the Philippines, especially the earthquake-hit areas of Mindanao, even if he is away from the country, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo added.

He said while Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea has been designated as the government’s officer-in-charge, as per Special Order 1182, signed by the President himself, he assured that the Chief Executive will be monitoring and getting the latest updates on the situation of the country.

Panelo said despite concerns about his health, the President will be seen attending the ASEAN Plenary Summit as well as other events, which include the 22nd ASEAN-China Summit, the 16th ASEAN-India Summit, the 10th ASEAN-UN Summit, the 22nd ASEAN plus Three Summit, the Seventh ASEAN-US Summit, the 14th East Asia Summit, the 22nd ASEAN-Japan Summit, and the Third Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit.

“The Palace looks forward to the President’s participation on the above-mentioned summits aimed to further enhance economic growth within a peaceful environment, and regional and global stability in the years to come,” Panelo said.

“The delegation meanwhile is excited to witness the President make our country and citizenry proud once again as he discusses his views and shares his insights on pressing matters that will be tackled in the summits,” he indicated.

Chief of Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert Borje said the assumption was that the President will be attending all his scheduled meetings.

“There are about 40 anticipated outcome documents at the end of the 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, which represent the culmination of the ASEAN Community’s work in pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable ASEAN Community, particularly given this year’s theme of ‘Partnership for Sustainability’,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary for the Office of ASEAN Affairs Junever Mahilum-West said.

“There will be a handover ceremony of the chairmanship of ASEAN from Thailand to Vietnam at the closing session on 12 November,” she went to say.