MANILA (UPDATE) - Palace transcribers on Monday made a serious blunder after they were fooled into thinking that an impersonator from Bicol was indeed President Duterte.

The News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Division on Monday sent to the Malacanang Press Corps an official transcript of a radio interview supposedly of Duterte by DZRH anchors Deo Macalma and Rica Herrera. Also being interviewed was Special Assistant to the President Bong Go.

Problem was, the one being interviewed was not the President, but a Bicol correspondent of DZRH named Jun Alegre, who is also a Duterte impersonator.

Alegre, pretending to be President Duterte, heaped praises on SAP Bong Go, even “confirming” his support for Go’s candidacy for senator.

"So, Mr. President, puwede na po naming itaas ang kanyang kamay for senator sa 2019, Mr. President, may go signal na po ba sa inyo?" Anchor Deo Macalma asked Alegre.

"Itaas na ninyo ang kamay niyan. Itinaas ko na ang kamay niyan," Alegre said, impersonating the President.

Go, who was aware they were talking to an impersonator, also played along with the interview. “Janitor lang muna ako. Wag muna nating pag-usapan iyong senator. Magpaiwan muna akong janitor, kasi mas maganda iyong janitor, all around tayo at puwede tayong makatulong, all around utility man,” he said.

Palace transcribers, mistakenly thinking that Duterte was the one being interviewed, labelled Alegre’s statement as the President’s.

The NIB later sent an erratum to the media after two hours. "The transcription titled “Interview with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte” by Deo Macalma and Rica Herrera over DZRH on March 19, 2018 should read “Interview with Impersonator of President Rodrigo R. Duterte”

Apologies for the error-NIB Transcription Section,” their email said.

However, several media outfits, having no reason to doubt the NIB, already made reports based on the official Palace transcript.