The outburst of Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque against medical doctors during a recent meeting of the government’s pandemic task force was uncalled for, an official of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) said.
PCP President Dr. Maricar Limpin confirmed that she was among those present in the virtual meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force earlier this week, together with Dr. Antonio Dans of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC).
Limpin said they attended the meeting to present to the IATF the state of the healthcare system and provide the officials a picture of the situation on the ground.
In an interview over DZBB, she explained that they requested to be part of the meeting after learning that restrictions in Metro Manila will be eased to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with granular lockdowns.
“Personally and honestly, I cannot understand and I was very surprised that that was his reaction kasi parang wala naman akong sinabi na (because I don't think I said anything) that can be interpreted as being arrogant because all that I am stating are facts,” Limpin said Friday, Sept. 10.
“So, I cannot understand really what brought about the reaction, and para sa akin (for me) is an uncalled for remark,” she added.
Roque has already explained his side on his now viral outburst during a press briefing, saying that he got emotional.
Real status of the healthcare system
In the meeting, Limpin lamented that there are patients who can no longer receive proper treatment because hospitals have not enough space for and medicines for them.
“We are seeing many people na namamatay na (dying) while looking for hospitals, so we are saying that if the GCQ will be implemented, then we are afraid that the healthcare system will really collapse,” she said.
Aside from this, Limpin said they urged the IATF to defer the imposition of GCQ in the National Capital Region (NCR), and instead place the region under a “strict lockdown” amid the continuing increase in the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.
“My intention is really for the to really have a picture of the real status of the healthcare system coming from the frontliners themselves,” she said.
The Department of Health (DOH) logged 22,820 new infections on Sept. 9, the biggest single-day tally since the pandemic hit the country last year.
“Honestly, I don't know where he is coming from. Hindi ko maintindihan (I cannot understand) how his reactions will be like that, and for me any government official should not have that kind of a reaction,” Limpin said.
Take criticisms constructively
Instead of getting angry over criticisms, the medical doctor said government officials should look into the reason why such remarks were made.
“Pagpalagay na natin, kunyari talagang nagki-criticize kami at sinasabi naming hindi tama ang kanilang ginagawa (Assuming we are really criticizing and saying that what they are doing is wrong), I think instead of getting angry at us, kailangan tignan nila (they should look into it),” Limpin said.
“Tignan niya kung bakit namin sinasabi iyon kasi (He should look into why we said that because) there must something wrong that’s why you’re speaking up. So instead of taking it negatively, he should accept it in a very constructive way because that how it should be,” she continued.
“Kung level-headed tayo (If we are level-headed), then that’s how we should look at it. All criticisms should be taken in constructively,” she added.