The commander of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield used a popular Filipino proverb to counter the statement of former Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles that love and faith in God are enough protection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the faithful need not use face masks and shields.
(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO)
“Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa,” said Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the JTF COVID Shield, who explained that people must also exert effort to protect themselves from the coronavirus.
Eleazar was reacting to the September 23 homily of Arguelles who was quoted saying that those who love and have faith in God do not need face masks, face shields and do not even need to observe social distancing.
As commander of the JTF COVID Shield, Eleazar is responsible for the enforcement of the minimum health safety standard protocols as part of the national government’s efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
More than 400,000 people have been accosted since March 17 due to violations of quarantine protocols.
“We fully understand the personal opinion of former Archbishop of Lipa Ramon Arguelles as one of the former leaders but still an influential personality of the Roman Catholic in the Philippines. As a Roman Catholic myself, I believe that the Almighty God is the Great Healer and the reason why our nation continues to stand its ground despite the adverse impacts of the COVID-19,” said Eleazar in a statement issued on Friday.
“But your Joint Task Force COVID Shield is also guided by the time-tested Filipino proverb ‘Nasa Diyos ang Awa, Nasa Tao Ang Gawa’,” he added.
Eleazar explained that regardless of one’s religious belief and opinion, the health safety protocols crafted by the government with the help of health experts are still needed to be strictly followed in order to ensure protection.
Before Arguelles, lawyer Larry Gadon was also severely criticized in social media for expressing his opinion that face masks and face shields are not necessary and proved to be ineffective in preventing the spread of the virus.
Based on the data of the Department of Health, more than 294,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus in the country, with 5,091 deaths.
“Regardless of our religious affiliations and beliefs, we in the JTF COVID Shield believe that the responsibility of protecting ourselves, protecting our families, protecting our community, and protecting our nation as a whole from the COVID-19 still lies in our actions based on the scientific points of view and recommendations of health experts who are the persons in authority when it comes to this pandemic,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar also emphasized that there should be no quarrel between science and religion as both of them must be in harmony in order to ensure maximum protection from the virus.
The national government had earlier prohibited religious gatherings as part of the health safety protocol against the COVID-19.
“Science and religion are not enemies, and therefore, must not clash on the aspect of protection from COVID-19. Instead, both science and religion should serve as our shield and armor as Filipinos and as a nation to fight, to win, and to heal as one,” said Eleazar.