The government must admit its failure in alleviating the plight of millions of Filipinos during the pandemic, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno said on Thursday, November 11, stressing that officials must be held responsible for its “disastrous COVID-19 response."
Diokno, who is running for senator under Vice President Leni Robredo’s slate, also lamented the “pandemic injustice” experienced in the past 20 months.
“Kailangang may pananagutan. Kailangan talaga na tatanggapin nila ang kanilang responsibilidad. Sabihin na lang nila pasensiya na po, hindi namin nagawa iyong aming trabaho (There should be accountability. They should really accept their responsibility. Just say, we’re sorry we did not do our jobs),” he said during a talk before officials and employees of Oriental Port and Allied Services Corporation (OPASCOR) in Cebu City.
The lawyer visited on Thursday the vote-rich province, where he also met Cebu Vice Governor Hilario Davide III.
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He stressed that the health care sector, despite having a huge budget, has been badly impacted by the government’s lackadaisical response to the pandemic.
Health care workers are still waiting for their allowances and benefits promised by the administration.
“Imbes na gamitin nila iyong kanilang budget at kapangyarihan para tulungan ang mga nangangailangan, parang napunta yata sa overpriced medical supplies at kuwestiyonable pa ang kalidad. At malay natin kung saan-saang bulsa napunta iyang pera ng bayan (Instead of using the budget and power to help those in need, it looked like it went to overpriced medical supplies with questionable quality. And who knows in which pocket the country’s money went),” Diokno said.
He was referring to the alleged overpriced medical supplies purchased by the government from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. for around P10 billion.
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“Hawak nila iyong buong kapangyarihan ng ating inang bayan pero parang pumalpak, parang hindi nila nagawa iyong dapat nilang gawin para sa taumbayan dito sa ilalim nitong pandemya (They have the power of the whole country but it looked like they failed, it looked like they didn’t do what they should’ve done for the people during the pandemic),” he added.
Diokno also called out the government for failing to provide financial assistance to workers who lost their jobs and to assist businesses that are badly hit by the pandemic, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
He currently heads the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), a group that provides free legal aid to victims of abuse and poor Filipinos.
Diokno also established a free legal help desk during the pandemic to help address the legal problems of poor Filipinos who cannot afford to get the services of a lawyer.