Presidential spokesman Harry Roque insisted on Tuesday, March 23, that the critics of the administration’s pandemic response were using the health crisis for political gains.
Speaking in an online media briefing, Roque said “constructive criticisms” should not include the abolition of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
(JOEY DALUMPINES / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO)
“Walang makakapantay pagdating sa human capital ng IATF (No one can be at par when it comes to the human capital of the IATF),” Roque added, noting that the task force members are the best and brightest talents in government.
Roque did not mention any names, though he went after the critics of the IATF, maintaining that they were politicizing the government’s pandemic response.
The Palace official cited someone who wants to be the health secretary will not stop at criticizing the IATF until he gets what he wants.
“That’s the nature,” Roque noted.
The others are elected officials who are politicizing the issue because the May 2022 elections are near while another comes from the losing political party, he said.
“Pagkakataon niya itong butasan ang gobyerno (This is a chance to undermine the government).”
Roque did not name anyone although Vice President Leni Robredo, who is the chairperson of the opposition Liberal Party, has been criticizing the administration for its slow COVID-19 response.
Dr. Tony Leachon, former IATF consultant and former head of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), has been also critical of the IATF.
On Twitter, he made a series of suggestions about what the task force needs to do and hit the government for not imposing a stricter quarantine in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Senator Imee Marcos, a known ally of the Duterte administration, earlier called for the dissolution of the IATF. Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III supports this call while opposition Senators Risa Hontiveros and Francis Pangilinan made similar suggestions to overhaul the task force with public health officers and not military officials.