The government is neither inutile nor the enemy in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, President Duterte declared Sunday even after the country's COVID-19 cases have breached the 100,000 mark.
(KING RODRIGUEZ / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The President defended the government’s pandemic response as he blasted the “neanderthal” critics who pretend to advise but actually criticize the government.
“Sabi naman ng iba, ‘Paano ba itong gobyerno, hindi nila ma-solve. Gamitin mo nga utak mo. Kasimple (Others have asked why can’t the government solve the problem. Better use your brain. It’s simple) COVID is the enemy, not the government,” he said during his televised address Sunday.
“The government is trying to control the (coronavirus outbreak). As a matter of fact, the government put you in prison in your house. Eh anong nangyari, maraming hindi sumunod (But what happened? Many did not follow),” he said.
Duterte also said the government is “not inutile” in dealing with the coronavirus crisis, citing plans to provide additional benefits for health frontliners.
He has urged Congress to include more benefits for workers such as free and frequent testing, life insurance, and free transportation and accommodation in the proposed Bayanihan 2 law. He likewise approved the proposal to provide P15,000 to health workers with mild coronavirus infection."We are ready to consider..well, if you want to term it 'stipend' or allowances or pay. Give us time, we will make the report. Sana masali ito sa the second Bayanihan (We hope it will be included in the second Bayanihan)," he said.
"Kung masali ito, ibibigay ko ito sa inyo ora mismo, no delay. From the treasury, diretso na sa inyo (If it is included, i will give it to you right away. No delay. From the treasury, it will be given straight to you). If you want it to be a treasury warrant, fine. If you want it to be encashed, fine. We will look for the right persons to distribute it to you. But the thing is, you can rest assured that there will be no corruption," he said.
The country’s medical community had earlier asked the President to restore a strict lockdown in Metro Manila for two weeks to stem the spread of the infections. They have called for a timeout as the country’s healthcare system has become overwhelmed with soaring infections.
The President expressed again his support for Health Secretary Francisco Duque III despite calls for his resignation. He believed that Duque has done nothing wrong and actually continues to perform his job.
“Anong kasalanan ng tao? (What did he do wrong?) He did not import COVID. He was there all the time and ang infection was overwhelming not only for the Philippines,” he said.
He hit back at the “bright” critics but who show “neanderthal” thinking. He told them not to be “double standard idiots” in criticizing the government’s efforts to fight the pandemic.He said if they were that bright, they would have been the country’s president or at least part of his government by now.
"Kung bright talaga kayo, sana kayo na ang nakaupo dito at nagawa na ninyo ang gusto ko (You should be the one sitting here and have done things I want). But for as long as you are not part of the government, you can criticize but do not be a double standard idiot pretending to advise then you criticize," he said.
Duterte also dared his critics to run for President, even offering to help them. "You identify yourself or I will keep track of your… Tapos sasabihin ko sa inyo kung anong ginagawa ninyo. Puro kayo daldal (Then I will tell you what you should do. You're all talk)," he said.