Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who is gunning for another Senate term this 2022, on Sunday, Jan. 16, said he is frustrated at the inability of the government to boost the country’s healthcare system two years since the pandemic started.
In a Facebook post, the Magdalo leader, who is a staunch critic of President Duterte, questioned the government’s response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“It is frustrating to think na (that) 2 years na ang pandemya, hindi pa rin napalakas ang (the pandemic, but they still haven’t strengthened the) healthcare system to be able to absorb surges. Tsk tsk,” he wrote.
“Tama nga, dapat Gobyernong Tapat, para Angat Buhay Lahat (It is true, it should be an honest government, for a better life for all)!,” Trillanes said in his post using hashtag #TeamLeniKiko.
He quoted presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo’s new campaign slogan that is centered on her office’s flagship poverty alleviation program, Angat Buhay.
READ: Robredo's new campaign ad projects her as 'capable leader'
Under Angat Buhay, Robredo partnered with private sectors to build housing, provide COVID-19 kits to her Bayanihan E-Konsulta patients, establish youth and women empowerment programs, and uplift the livelihood of ordinary Filipinos.
Trillanes, who is running under Robredo’s and running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan’s ticket, aired his frustrations amid the recent COVID-19 surge in the country because of the Omicron variant.
On Sunday, the country recorded 37,154 new cases, the third highest single-day tally since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020.
The positivity rate is 47.4 percent, the second highest since testing data became available.