Angelle De Leon
Many netizens have rallied behind Quezon City health officer Esperanza Arias and head of the city’s epidemiology and surveillance unit Rolly Cruz after a politician shamed them on social media.
On his Facebook page, Quezon City second district councilor Winston “Winnie” Castelo expressed his dismay at the two officials who failed to answer his calls.
The lawmaker also implied that both officials seemed to be “missing in action” in the coronavirus fight, thus resulting in high cases of COVID-19 in the city.
“Mabuti pa si Mayor Joy Belmonte, Disaster Head Myke Marasigan at Task Force Chair (Ronnie) Ludovica sumasagot sa text at tawag kahit napaka-busy. Ganyan ang public officials ‘pag krisis. Pero ang hepe sa QC Health na dapat manguna sa laban sa COVID-19 si Arias at si Dr. Rolly Cruz wala. Dedma sa text at tawag,” Castelo wrote.
“Gusto ko lang tumulong. At this time of crisis, public officials should be transparent, responsive and accountable to assure the restive public. Taxpayer din ako. Mahal ko QC. Ang QC ngayon ang pinakamataas na kaso ng COVID-19. Di na ko nagtataka. Kung ako na empleyado di pinakikinggan, ano pa kaya ang ordinaryong tao,” he added.
This statement didn’t go down well with Arias’ daughter and a lot of netizens.
In a statement she posted on her Facebook, Arias’ daugther, Rica, said her mom could not even contact them ― her own family ― because she’s busy dealing with other people and doing her job.
“Dra. Arias, my mom hasn’t been home for a number of days because of her duties as a frontliner for the citizens of Quezon City, above this, she is a cancer patient who is immunocompromised and has a very high risk of acquiring the disease,” Rica stressed.
“Kahit kami mismo na pamilya niya di siya ma-contact kaka-serbisyo niya sa mga tao. Then there goes this government official attacking her for merely not being able to answer calls because of how busy she is. You of all people should understand their duties as healthcare workers, especially all the things they handle with this pandemic. You of all people should appreciate their hard work,” she went on.
“‘Pag sa ibang bagay, nagagamit ninyo power ninyo as government officials, pero ‘pag ‘di lang masagot tawag, ‘di ninyo mapuntahan personally? ‘Wag sa Facebook konsi, wala Facebook si Dra., andon siya, busy mag-serbisyo sa mga tao hindi sa PULITIKO. NEVER SHAME THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS LALO NA’T SILA NAGTRA-TRABAHO PARA SA MGA PINAGMAMALAKI NINYONG PROJECTS ‘NIYO’ NGAYON,” she added.
Many netizens agreed with what Rica said.
Here’s what some netizens had to say:
“Grabe ‘tong konsehal na ‘to wala naman ginagawa reklamador pa. Nagtra-trabaho iyong doktor eh. Ikaw puro FB lang,” – Maricar Caseria
“We need Dr. Arias alive and healthy to serve the people rather than these trapoliticians and opportunists.” – Ted Ginez
“G*go ka ba Winnie. Hanapin mo sa banga… Puro ka dada hindi ‘yan mga politiko na gusto ng publicity… Tukmol.” – Jude Villaceran
“Sabi ninyo nga na mataas ang bilang sa QC. Uunahin pa ba ng doctor makipag-chismisan sayo sa phone. Asan po ang brain?” – Selbor Yojem
“Why are politicians allowed to do this sh*t but other professions can’t? Why are politicians above the law? Most of them only pocket the public’s money. They’re supposed to serve the people not the other way round.” – Fritz Lee
“Grabe naman sila. Wala pa nga sila naitutulong. Makapag-pahiya sa doctor. Grabe.” – Bernadeth Gulam
“Papoging pulpolitiko. Wala naman sense.” – James Santos
“Pa-famous ‘tong konsi na ‘to. Walang utak.. Bakit sa FB mo hinahanap ‘yung doctor? May office siya g*go. Sa lahat pa talaga ng klaseng tao ikaw pa na public servant humusga at nagpahiya sa frontliners natin? G*go ka!” – Hazel Guen
“Hindi porke government official ka ay dapat ka unahin.. Isipin mo na may dapat unahin ang doktor at dapat alam mo na hindi ikaw ‘yon.” – John Glenn Gonzalez
“Winnie Castelo kung tumutulong ka na lang sa bayan. Matutuwa pa sa’yo ang mga mamamayan. Pero kung naghahanap ka ng gulo tumahimik ka na lang. Nananahimik si Dr. Arias sa pagtulong sa kapwa ikaw naman kuda ng kuda. Wala naman naitutulong. ‘Wag ka maghanap ng sisisihin mo. Manahimik ka.” – Leo Dela Cruz
“Isa pa ito eh… Isa pa itong feeling entitled.” – Cez Baylan
“Taxpayer din ako pero never ko i-blame ang frontliner. Baka nga mas deserve mo pang i-blame sa statement mo. We are on a crisis and everyone is doing their part. Ikaw ano ang nagawa mo as a public servant?” – Bong Bacayan
“Bobo ka W. Castelo.” – Henry Manago
“‘Wag na iboto ‘yan sa susunod (na eleksiyon) kasama buong partido niya. Pare-pareho lang sila.” – Pat Obligacion
After receiving numerous negative comments, Castelo’s original post has been deleted.
As of April 30, Quezon City has a total number of 1,269 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 126 deaths.
