Who's really calling the shots now?
Senate President Vicente Sotto III raised this question as he slammed on Friday, June 18, the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for refusing to ease the rules on the use of face shields amid the pandemic.
The IATF had asked President Duterte to retain the mandatory face shield policy in enclosed public spaces, such as workplaces, malls and public transportation, not limit its use in hospitals.
It was Sotto who first bared that Duterte favored the wearing of face shields, in addition to face masks, only in hospitals. This was briefly discussed at the sidelines of the ceremonial signing of new laws on Wednesday, June 16.
According to the Senate leader, even designated vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. and testing czar Vince Dizon agreed with it.
"PRRD (President Rodrigo Duterte) and even Sec. Galvez and Sec. Dizon when I talked to them agree that face shields should only be worn in hospitals, now who is really calling the shots here?" Sotto said in a message to reporters.
Government officials have given varying statements about the dropping use of face shields when going outdoors, but Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III, who co-chairs the IATF, has since maintained that it provides individuals more protection against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) also opposed the lifting of the mandatory face shield rule.
Pending Duterte's decision on the IATF's recommendation, the use of face shields outside homes shall remain in effect, his spokesperson Harrry Roque said.