Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño on Monday stressed his “shame campaign’’ proposal only targets stubborn quarantine protocol violators and not the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Diño admitted making the suggestion due to the “voluminous reports and complaints on a daily basis from barangay officials on the hardheadedness and lack of cooperation of some of their constituents’’ his office had received.
 
“While I did I mention the need to launch a shame campaign, my suggestion was directed not against COVID-19 patients but against quarantine violators such as those who still refuse to wear face masks, observe physical distancing, and abide by the minimum health standards set by the Department of Health (DOH).’’
 
Diño noted that the “apparent apparent lack of discipline and concern’’ from the defiant individuals is one of the primary reasons why COVID-19 cases have surged.
 
He described this sad reality citing the sacrifices made by the frontliners and law-abiding citizens.
 
Diño issues the clarification claiming that the radio station hosts in his July 18 interview misconstrued his “shame campaign’’ call was aimed at COVID-19 patients.
 
“Out of my utter disgust and exasperation over such behavior, I told the program hosts that there should be a shame campaign against such individuals for their audacity to disregard the threat of the disease and the preventive measures we have established,’’ he added. 
 
In a statement, Diño maintained that his declaration was “misquoted or twisted by some media outlets to appear that the shame campaign is against COVID-19 patients.’’
 
With his clarification, Diño stressed that this should “set the record straight that I will never personally champion a mentality of shaming COVID patients nor will the Department of the Interior and Local Government.’’
 
‘’Nonetheless, I sincerely regret the confusion brought about by this issue,’’ Diño concluded.