From nothing to be 'extra scared' to PH can 'triumph' over COVID-19
When the new coronavirus disease started to spread across the country last year, President Duterte tried to put on a brave face and assure the public that everything was well in the country.
A year later, the brutal pandemic has upended the country’s way of life and business. Coronavirus cases have soared past the 600,000 mark with the death toll reaching more than 12,000. The local economy is in tatters and millions are out of work. Mask wearing and physical distancing have become part of Filipinos' daily routine amid the unrelenting virus transmission.
With the case surge and the country in recession, the President is confronted with the difficult task of balancing the reopening of the economy while protecting public health. The pandemic has put Duterte's presidential mettle to the test in addressing an unprecedented health emergency in the final months of his term office.
In his evolving attitude towards the virus spread, Duterte has so far went from downplaying the threat to ordering the arrest of quarantine violators, to lashing out at the vice president and other critics, to promising free inoculations for all Filipinos, and to mulling the full reopening of the economy after massive vaccination.
Twelve months since the community quarantine was imposed in the country, we look back at the President's frank, fierce and controversial remarks about the virus and the pandemic response.
- “Everything is well in the country. There is nothing really to be extra scared of that coronavirus thing although it has affected a lot of countries but in… You know one or two in any country is not really that fearsome.”.
Feb. 3, 2020.
COVID-19 cases: 2
Death: 1
When the country recorded its first death from COVID-19 in February 2020, the President faced the nation and assured Filipinos not to worry about the illness that first broke out in China. Duterte said everything was “well” in the country, adding there was no need to be hysterical about the virus.
- “China has been kind to us. We can only also show the same favor to them. Stop this Sinophobia.”
Feb. 3, 2020
The government was initially hesitant to bar Chinese visitors to the country amid concerns over the impact on its relations with the Asian giant. By late January 2020, the President eventually agreed to restrict travelers from Hubei province where Wuhan City, the epicenter of the coronavirus, was located. A few days later, the travel ban was expanded to cover China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
When he addressed the nation in early February 2020, Duterte warned against fomenting Sinophobia during the pandemic, saying discriminating against the Chinese was “utter disrespect to a human being.”
- “Itong p** i** idioto na corona ito, hinahanap ko eh. Gusto kong sampalin ang g***."
Feb. 10, 2020
COVID-19 cases: 3
Death: 1
The President leaned into his tough-guy persona and threatened to slap the coronavirus when he spoke before an assembly of local government officials on Feb. 10, 2020. Before this comment, Duterte assured Filipinos the government was "on top of the threat of the coronavirus." The government was "prepared to handle this public health emergency, in case the worst scenario happens," he said.
- “I assure you we have the money and we can defeat that --- t* i*** virus na ‘yan. Saan ba nakatira ‘yan?”
March 10, 2020
COVID-19 cases: 33
Death: 1
By March 8, the country was placed under a state of public health emergency to mobilize resources to “eliminate the COVID-19 threat” based on Proclamation No. 922 issued by the President. A week later, the President issued Proclamation No. 929 declaring a state of calamity in the country due to the coronavirus.
Duterte said the country has ample funds to fight the outbreak and expressed confidence about the nation's survival as the world scrambled to develop a vaccine. He also voiced confidence the nation would survive the contagion but felt it was "too early" to shut down the economy then.
- "This is not a martial law…We are at war against a vicious and invisible enemy.”
March 17, 2020
COVID-19 cases: 187
Deaths: 14
When the country's cases rose beyond 100, the President imposed an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila starting mid-March 2020. He later widened the lockdown to cover the main Luzon island to halt the spiraling coronavirus numbers. The strict lockdown included strict stay-at-home rule, suspension of public transport, alternative work arrangements, travel restrictions, ban on large gatherings, and class suspension.
Moving to ease any public concern, Duterte was quick to clarify that there was no imposition of martial law in the country. "We are in the fight for the lives. We are at war against a vicious and invisible enemy, one that cannot be seen by the naked eye. In this extraordinary war, we are all soldiers," he said.
- “My orders are sa pulis pati military, pati mga barangay na pagka ginulo at nagkaroon ng okasyon na lumaban at ang buhay ninyo ay nalagay sa alanganin, shoot them dead.”
April 1, 2020
COVID -19 cases: 2,311
Deaths: 96
By April 2020, the President directed government security forces to shoot dead anyone who would cause trouble during the lockdown. Amid reports of violations of lockdown rules, he appealed to the public to cooperate and follow the home quarantine measures as well as warned against harming health workers.
- "Itong COVID na ito, ito talaga ‘yung tunay na at the start sinabi ko sa inyo bantay kayo dito, bantay tayo, talagang yayariin tayo nitong COVID na ‘to.”
April 6, 2020
COVID-19 cases: 3,660
Deaths: 163
The President claimed that he warned about the health crisis from the start despite an earlier comment there was nothing to be feared. He said people would suffer as long as there was no vaccine.
Duterte also admitted the government's funds were not enough, prompting him to order his finance chief to steal or borrow funds if needed. He also asked for public cooperation during these challenging times, urging them to help poor fellowmen hit most by the pandemic.
- “‘Pag maubos talaga ang pera, ipagbili ko lahat ng propriedad ng gobyerno, iyang Cultural Center, PICC. ‘Yung lupa diyan.”
April 9, 2020.
COVID-19 cases: 4,076
Deaths: 203
The sale of government properties would be the last resort to shore up finances for a pandemic response, according to the President. The health crisis arising from the coronavirus may last for two years if no vaccine was discovered soon, he warned.
- "Huwag kayong umalis lahat…there’s no end in sight, anong katapusan nito, wala pa --- and our numbers are increasing.”
April 14, 2020
COVID-19 cases: 5,223
Deaths: 335
As the country’s cases soared beyond 5,000, the President appealed to the country’s health workers to reconsider any plan to leave the country in the middle of a pandemic. Duterte could not blame health workers to seek greener pastures abroad but urged them to stay to help Filipinos in need.
- "Make sure that all countries will have fair and easy access to vaccines and treatments."
April 14, 2020
President Duterte made a pitch for "fair and easy access" to vaccines and treatments for all countries when he attended a virtual regional summit in April 2020. He likewise backed the setting up a regional reserve for medical supplies as well as rice supply amid the coronavirus pandemic.
A similar pitch was raised when Duterte delivered his first-ever address before the United General Assembly in September 2020. "When the world finds that vaccine, access to it must not be denied nor withheld. It should be made available to all, rich and poor nations alike, as a matter of policy,” he said.
- "I will not allow the opening of classes na magdikit-dikit ang mga bata. Bahala na hindi makatapos for this generation, wala na makatapos na doktor pati engineer…Para sa akin, bakuna muna.”
May 25, 2020
COVID-19 cases: 14,319
Deaths: 873
With the lingering danger posed by the pandemic, Duterte has opposed the proposed resumption of in-person classes until a vaccine against the coronavirus becomes available. He said it was useless to discuss any class resumption if the safety of the students from the disease could not be guaranteed.
- “We are gradually easing restrictions to make way for our economic viability as individuals and as a nation. But it does not mean that we will forget our minimum health standards.”
June 16, 2020
COVID-19 cases: 26,781
Deaths: 1,103
By June, the President started to gradually ease the country’s lockdown restrictions, allowing more businesses to resume operations and more people to return to work. He said the country had not yet reached the second wave of coronavirus infections but observed the high recovery rate may be related to the country's warmer temperature.
- “P*** i COVID na 'yan. Hindi uubra 'yan diyan. Totoo. Kung wala kayo, if you want to disinfect, maghanap ng gasolina. Babad mo lang kamay mo.”.
July 21, 2020
COVID-19 cases: 70,764
Deaths: 1,837
In July 2020, Duterte suggested that people may dip their face masks or hands in gasoline or diesel to disinfect. He later said he was not kidding when he suggested the use of kerosene as a disinfectant if people did not have alcohol.
- “Magsabi kayo revolution, then ngayon na. Go ahead. Try it. Sirain natin itong bayan. Patayin natin lahat ng may COVID.”.
August 2, 2020
COVID cases: 103,185
Deaths: 2,059
By August 2020, the President railed against the health workers for publicly criticizing his administration’s pandemic response, saying they were raising a “spectacle” of their “agony.” Duterte, apparently annoyed that he was last to know about their petition, threatened to quell any revolution from their ranks. Despite his tirade, Duterte put back millions of people into a two-week lockdown in Metro Manila following the timeout plea of the medical community.
- “Ako, pagdating ng bakuna, in public, para walang satsat diyan, in public magpa-injection ako. Ako ‘yung maunang ma-eksperimentuhan. Okay para sa akin.”.
August 10, 2020
COVID-19 cases: 136,638
Deaths: 2,293
In August 2020, Duterte volunteered to get the first vaccine shot to show trust and gratitude to Russia after offering to supply the country. Months later, Duterte changed his mind and expressed his preference for the vaccine developed by China’s Sinopharm.
- “I have the money already for the vaccine but hahanap pa ako ng maraming pera because you know there are now 113 million Filipinos. And to me, ideally, all should have the vaccine without exception.”
Oct. 14, 2020
COVID-19 cases: 346,536
Deaths: 6,449
Free inoculations for all Filipinos but priority will be given to health workers, the poor, and police and military personnel. This was a promise made by the President in his public address in October 2020 to provide protection from COVID-19.
Earlier, Duterte refused to make advance payments to vaccine manufacturers, saying he would prioritize vaccines from China and Russia since they don’t ask for reservation fees. By November 2020, he allowed advance payments to suppliers of potential vaccines to avoid being the last to get the life-saving drugs.
- “Mukhang pera.”
Nov. 6, 2020
COVID cases: 391,809
Deaths: 7,461
In November 2020, the President called Philippine Red Cross “mukhang pera” (greedy) after the group resumed COVID-19 testing services following the government’s partial payment of its debt.
- “You had parties every Christmas. Would you be kind enough just to skip the --- not really frivolous but the festivities, iwasan na muna ninyo.”.
Dec. 7, 2020
COVID-19 cases: 441,399
Deaths: 8,572 19
The country’s usual festive holiday celebration was toned down in December 2020 after the President pleaded to Filipinos to skip the parties as a COVID-19 precaution.
- “In about maybe early year 2023, not 2022. Ito ngayon hanggang katapusan ng buwan, paspasan tayo."
Feb. 28, 2021
COVID-19 cases: 576, 352
Deaths: 12,318
According to the President, the country may return to normalcy by 2023 as the country started to receive the initial batch of coronavirus vaccine supplies. The government has started the immunization drive with the goal of inoculating 70 million people to attain herd immunity.
- “Sometimes you make an idiotic stance. Iyong mga ganoong ‘They deserve the best.’ Anak ka ng… Bakit ako? I would give them the worst? Mamatay ka na. Hindi ko iwanan ‘yong mga frontliners.”.
March 1, 2021
COVID-19 cases: 578,381
Deaths: 12,322 21
The relations between President Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo have been further strained during the pandemic. Duterte has been furious with her criticisms of the government’s vaccination efforts. He recently told her to shut up if she has nothing helpful to say and even wished her dead.
- “Social distancing, I do not think that we can force our people really to --- because it’s impossible. There are too many Filipinos in the urban areas than in the rural areas.”
March 11, 2021
COVID-19 cases: 607, 048
Deaths: 12,608
The country’s problem in implementing safe distancing is supposedly the huge population. Duterte has pushed for a family planning program after the country’s ballooning population has made it impossible for millions of Filipinos to keep a safe distance from each other to prevent the virus spread.
- “I have to reopen the economy. I have given a timetable of just weeks. We cannot forever be in the strict protocols because we have to open the economy. People are hungry, people --- they have to work, to eat, to survive.”
March 11, 2021
After several months of lockdown, the full reopening of the economy may be in the offing. In the same speech in Dumaguete on March 11, the President said the economy must be reopened soon as he pushed for the swift vaccination of Filipinos. Amid the continued surge in infections, he also appealed to the public to continue observing health protocols whether at homes or in public places, especially transport.
“It is only with everyone’s full cooperation that the nation can effectively contain the spread of COVID-19 and triumph against the pandemic. With these concerted efforts, I am confident that we will emerge a strong nation,” Duterte said.