Although denying that he was given preferential treatment at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for being admitted despite the lack of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Tuesday, April 13, admitted that he has deep ties with the institution.
(OPS / FILE PHOTO)
“Malalim din po ako sa PGH dahil dito ako pinanganak, miyembro ako ng asosasyon ng mga pinanganak rito na tumutulong sa PGH (I have deep ties with the PGH because I was born here, I am a member of the association of those who were born here and helping the PGH),” he said during a virtual press briefing from his room at the PGH where he is confined for COVID-19.
“Pero I can assure po gaya ng lahat ng hospital, ang basis for admission po kinakailangan moderate at severe cases. Sa aking kaso po, I was in bad shape when I was admitted (But I can assure that like all hospitals, the basis for admission are moderate and severe cases. In my case, I was in bad shape when I was admitted),” Roque added.
Even before he became a spokesperson for Duterte, the Palace official explained he’s already been going to the PGH for his medical check-up. These are the same doctors who have been looking after his health, he explained.
In fact, the doctor who gave birth to his mother is still part of the institution. “So, ganyan po ako katagal na pasyente ng PGH (So, that’s how long I have been a patient of PGH).”
On Saturday, Roque said he was admitted to the PGH for a COVID-19 reinfection. This was his second time to get infected with COVID-19 in a month.
But people on social media pointed out that more severe COVID-19 patients cannot find an available hospital room in Metro Manila because hospitals are full capacity.
He earlier said it was “unchristian” for people to question why he was given a room at the government-run hospital.
“Hindi po pupwede ang palakasan dito. Noong ako po’y pinapasok ng aking mga doctor (There is no favoritism here. When I was admitted by my doctors), it was because the condition merited admission,” Roque explained.
The Palace official most of his doctors are his colleagues in the University of the Philippines’ faculty when he was still teaching law there.
He maintained that under President Duterte’s term, everyone will receive medical attention.
“Lahat po ‘yan gagamutin. Kung wala pang kwarto sa ER pero nagkakakuwarto naman po yan dahil karamihan nagpupunta po rito ay charity patients para sa mga wards (They will all be treated. If there is no room in the ER, there will be a room eventually because most of those who go here are charity patients for the wards),” Roque added.
Social media has been filled with posts from netizens who cannot find a hospital to get their loved ones admitted. Many of those who are looking for an available hospital room have severe symptoms.