Andronico Del Rosario
President Rodrigo Duterte is known to make bold claims such as how his Administration handled the pandemic. His latest, however, seemed to defy logic.
“This is a mechanical act. It is not a study of medicine. Kaya tinawag ko si [vaccine czar Carlito] Galvez, para siya ang magdala.”
The words seemed to reflect not just his stand on vaccine procurement, but on handling the pandemic in general—and Netizens were not impressed.
Journalist Barnaby Lo had a short but sweet tweet that summed up the thoughts of Filipinos nicely.
The pandemic is not a matter of medicine? God save us. https://t.co/chffcBdqmz
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) March 24, 2021
The record high of 8,773 COVID-19 cases also reflected the perception of the national government. It is not taking the blame nor pointing it to any sector for the sudden spike of cases on Thursday, March 25.
CNN Philippines’ Menchu Macapagal is bothered by this.
She also pointed out how Duterte and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) decided to open up the economy that caused the spike in cases—not just the UK and South African variants.
You know what bothers me? People saying opening the economy didn't cause this. I'm no expert but the IATF and the DOH had ample warning that the new COVID variants were more infectious. After the discovery of new variants in the country, they STILL chose to loosen up restrictions
— Menchu Macapagal (@menchumacapagal) March 24, 2021
A Tokyo-based Filipino engineer even brought in Palace spokesperson Harry Roque’s recent meme-worthy antics on live television into the mix.
this is the face of this government during the pandemic. remember this face. remember this experience: the level of disrespect and disregard, the lack of accountability, the audacity, the injustice. remember what they are doing to our people. pic.twitter.com/Wte2rc6ebn
— Carlos (@qarloscuiapo) March 25, 2021
He stated Roque’s face is “the face of the government during the pandemic… remember this experience. The level of disrespect and disregard, the lack of accountability, the audacity, (and) the injustice.”
Philippine Star columnist Federico Pascual believes the country is way past in saying “we are losing control.”
We can't even say we're losing control. Because we've never been in control since Day One. https://t.co/p3JKDTMdTd
— Federico Pascual🇵🇭 (@FDPascual) March 25, 2021
The recently enacted regulations from the IATF tell a story.
Police visibility, curfew hours, checkpoints, and penalties for violating minimum health protocols—wearing a face mask and face shield as well as social distancing—are once again at the forefront of the pandemic response.
The government insisted that their policies are not flawed, as evidenced by Roque’s constant reminder to Filipinos that the IATF has handled the pandemic “excellently”—something which Netizens have since disproven via the hashtag #DutertePalpak.
Recently, the Palace, through Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, said they are even open to criticisms as long as constructive. However, critiques of the pandemic response are continually pushed aside by the Palace.
