Health worker groups slammed Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque after a video of him circulated on social media---- losing his temper against a group of medical frontliners.
Roque should step down from his position, said Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) President Robert Mendoza.
“Dapat bumitiw na din si Secretary Roque sa kanyang pwesto...Pag ganyan ang ating spokesperson, it reflects doon sa President natin. (Secretary Roque should also resign from his post. If our spokesperson's behavior is like that, it reflects on our President),” said Mendoza during an online forum on Friday, Sept. 10.
“Nakakagalit ang ginawa ni Secretary Roque. Madami na siyang statement na anti-health workers (What Secretary Roque did is infuriating. He has made many statements against anti-health workers),” he added.
The Filipino Nurses United (FNU) said that Roque is not deserving to be an elected official.
“Hindi ko sigurado kung karapadapat ka din iboto kahit sa senado sa darating na election (I'm not sure if you deserve to be voted in the Senate in the upcoming elections),” said FNU President Maristela Abenojar during the same forum.
“Hindi maganda na ang isang mambabatas may ganyang attitude (It's not good for a legislator to have that kind of attitude),” she added.
As the government’s spokesperson, Roque should listen to the sentiments of health workers, said Abenojar.
“Kung ikaw ay nasa ganyang position, dapat pinapakinggan mo, iniintindi kung saan nanggagaling ang sentimyento nung mga manggagamot, nurses or health workers na nagsasalita (If you are in that position, you should listen and pay attention to the sentiments of the doctors, nurses or health workers),” said Abenojar.