No plan to ban TikTok in Philippines — Roque

MANILA, Philippines — There is no plan to ban the Chinese video-sharing application TikTok in the Philippines, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said yesterday, adding that there are no efforts to stifle the constitutionally protected freedom of expression in the country.

“There is nothing to that effect,” Roque said in Filipino during a remote broadcast from Quezon City yesterday.

President Duterte respects the Filipino people’s freedom of expression, contrary to how he has been painted by his critics, according to the Palace spokesman.

“To those who are saying the President is suppressing the right to free speech, there is not any website being banned by the President, and I don’t see any reason to ban TikTok here in the Philippines,” said Roque, who himself has used the app before he returned as presidential spokesman.

Malacañang’s statement came after US President Donald Trump earlier threatened to ban TikTok in the US due to security issues involving China. India has already banned the mobile app.