Quotative particle for indirect speech, he/she/they say, according to. [Disclaims responsibility for speech quoted]. Also used when relating happenings seen in a dream. Used also when children are playing a pretend game.
He will come, he says, tomorrow.
In my dream, there was, seen in the dream, an ant snatching and devouring a carabao.
Let's pretend I'm, let's say, your father, and you, let's say, are my mother.