House Asst. Minority Leader and Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas on Wednesday, March 10 decried as another diversionary tactic the Philippine National Police’s reminder to couples to avoid public display of affection (PDA) as part of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) safety protocol.
(GABRIELA WOMEN’S PARTY FACEBOOK / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Tama na ang pagiging doctor kwak-kwak. Ang kailangan ng mga Pilipino ay ayuda, hustisya at ligtas na lipunan! (Stop acting like quack doctors. What Filipinos need is aid, justice and safe community),” said Brosas in a press statement.
“Why not stop killing unarmed citizens instead of enforcing another stupid policy?” she asked.
The lady solon said the media statement issued by the PNP on Wednesday was an apparent move by the PNP to redirect public attention away from the ‘bloody Sunday’ killing of activists based in Southern Luzon.
“This desperate attempt to divert the public's attention from the bloody state-perpetrated massacre against activists in Southern Luzon is not going to work, especially now that more Filipinos, and even the international community, are becoming aware of the state's machinations to silence dissent,” said Brosas.
The Southern Luzon killings have drawn condemnation from various groups, particularly human rights organizations as the attacks came a day after President Rodrigo Duterte issued an order to kill enemies of the state.
The opposition solon’s statement was in response to the press statement of Lt. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana, PNP spokesman, reminding couples, family members or close friends to refrain from showing “physical, social and romantic relationships in public.” Usana said they should show affection in the privacy of their homes and not in public.
“Infection happens to families, it can happen to anyone, anywhere. People should maintain being cautious from the spread of the virus,” Usana said.