Malacañang was careful not to criticize anybody Friday, Dec. 10 over the somewhat routine disregard of minimum public health standards (MPHS) during political caravans and rallies helds by 2022 elections aspirants.
"I'd like everybody to understand that it's everyone's responsibility," Cabinet Secretary and Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles said during a virtual press conference.
In the presser, Nograles was asked on the action the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) would take regarding the political mass gatherings where MPHS such as physical distancing are obviously not being followed. Nograles is the spokesperson of IATF.
Instead of answering the question, the Palace official chose to remind the rallyist-supporters, the local government units (LGUs), the event organizers, and the aspiring candidates involved in such caravans to obverse MPHS and related protocols. These include getting oneself vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), wearing masks, observing physical distancing, and proper hygiene.
"We really need the support and cooperation ninyo, iyong mga supporters na pumupunta sa mga events na iyan (We really need the cooperation of the supporters who go to those events)," he said.
"Sa mga (To the) LGUs – local government units, local chief executives – alam ninyo naman po kung—itong mga naging challenging months and weeks para mapababa natin itong bilang ng COVID. Huwag nating sayangin lahat ng accomplishments natin (you all know the challenging months and weeks that we had to go through in order to reduce new COVID cases. Let's not waste these accomplishments)," Nograles added.
Among the poll aspirants who are drawing huge crowds in poltical caravans and rallies--as seen via social media--is presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. Duterte-Carpio is running for vice president.
She is the running mate of presidential aspirant, former Senator Bongbong Marcos.
Asked what will be done to the violators of health protocols, Nograles said: "The DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) right now is currently doing its assessment, nakikipag-ugnayan sa lahat ng mga LGU (it is coordinating with all LGUs)."
"We are now consistently and constantly reminding ‘no lahat ng mga LGUs (all the LGUs). Kasi pagdating kasi sa grounds (When it comes to the ground), it’s really the LGUs that have the—they’re our first line of defense in terms of the implementation of all of the guidelines, protocols, resolutions ‘no, lahat ng mga pinaiiral natin, ang mga kailangan nating gawin (all that we are implementing and what we need to do. So it really belongs to the LGUs as our first line," he explained.
Pressed whether or not he thinks the aspiring candidates themselves should be held accountable for the apparent MPHS lapses amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Nograles was once again evasive.
"I think this is a shared responsibility of everyone...I hope that we take our shared responsibility seriously given na ang haba na ng pinagdaanan natin 'no for how many months in this war against COVID-19 (the long months of battle that we waged in this war against COVID-19). 'Wag po nating sayangin ang efforts ng lahat (Let's not waste everyone's efforts)."
Nograles said that the "danger" in placing responsibility to a single sector is the potential for things to turn into a finger-pointing contest. "That's what we want to avoid."
"Kung supporter ka ng kandidato, dapat alam mo ang repercussions din sa kandidato mo, 'di ba (If you're a supporter of a candidate, then you should know the repercussions on your candidate, right)? Yung candidate, ganun din. Kung mahal mo rin yung mga supporters mo (It's the same for the candidate. If you love your supporters), then you also have to be careful 'no. Yung mga LGUs ganun din, mandated yung responsibility by law (It's also the same for LGUs, their responsibility is mandated by law)," he said.
"So we all have our role to play, we all have our responsibilities not only to ourselves but sa ating pamilya, sa ating communities, sa ating mga kababayan (to our family, to our communities, and to our countrymen)," Nograles concluded.
President Duterte is supporting his daughter's vice presidential bid. He has yet to name his pick for the Palace race.