Malacañang said President Duterte was only joking when he claimed that face masks could be re-worn after being disinfected with gasoline.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Duterte made the controversial remark in his public address taped on Monday evening but was only aired the following morning.

In his Thursday presser, Roque said it has already been four years and yet it appears that the public is still not used to the President's language.

"Kayo naman apat na taon na si Presidente, parang hindi niyo pa kilala si Presidente (The President has been in office for four years already but it seems you still don't know him). Joke only!" he said.

"Bakit naman tayo maghuhugas ng gasolina (Why would we wash it using gasoline)?" he added.

The Department of Health (DOH) had already debunked the President's claim but said that the President may just be joking.

"Alam niyo naman pag nagsasalita si Presidente, baka iyong mga jokes lang niya iyon (You know how the President is. Maybe that was just one of his jokes), especially for gasoline," Health spokesperson Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Tuesday.

According to Vergeire, cloth masks must be washed every after use while N95 masks and surgical masks cannot be reused and should be disposed of properly to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Roque, meanwhile, said he will inform President Duterte about Vergeire's advice to the public.

"Yung sinasabing single-use ang masks ipararating natin kay Presidente 'yan (We will inform the President about the use of single-use masks)," he said.

Malacañang has urged local government units (LGUs), particularly in Metro Manila, to come up with a uniform ordinance on mask-wearing. The government has required the public to wear face masks when going out to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In his public address this week, President Duterte expressed his desire to provide free face masks for everybody, particularly for the poor.