- Netizens also slammed government’s response to the crisis.
Singer-actress and known Duterte critic Agot Isidro spoke out about the president’s absence amidst growing concerns on COVID-19.
On March 9, the Presidential Security Group’s (PSG) issued a No-Touch policy on President Rodrigo Duterte. “Personalities expected to get near the President especially during meetings and events will be thouroughly screened and tested for any illness related to COVID-19,” said PSG Commander Jesus Durante.
In reaction to this, Agot asked in a tweet as to how can people even touch the President if he’s nowhere to be found.
“Paano mahahawakan, eh di nga makita?” she tweeted.
https://twitter.com/agot_isidro/status/1236941727727927296?s=21
Netizens also shared Agot’s observation about the President not being on top of the situation.
Taking a power nap po! pic.twitter.com/jnjQDD6qHn
— Leisbeth Recto (@leisbeth_recto) March 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/marcelodepilar/status/1236948551843758080
Agree. And when we get to see a glimpse of him on TV, he either looks so damn high on fentanyl or drunk. Could hardly understand what he's saying. The only coherent words I could make out were his expletives.
— Chelle (@iamchelleannf) March 9, 2020
Baka naka-quarantine…
sa loob ng kulambo.
— NagpapahingaMuna (@Rise4Ridge) March 9, 2020
Duterte missing in action
The President has been out of public view for the past days when the threat of COVID-19 in the country has started to increase.
On Saturday, DOH confirmed the first locally transmitted corona virus case, a 62-year old man from Cainta, Rizal.
Hours after the confirmation of local transmission, DOH reported another four confirmed cases totalling to 10 on Sunday.
By Monday morning, March 9, the total confirmed cases in the country rose to 20 with an additional 10 cases.
Last night, March 9, the President had his first public appearance after several days at a meeting in Malacanang. Right after the cabinet meeting, he had a presscon with Malacanang reporters where he announced additional four new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 24.
While DOH cautioned people to avoid panicking and just follow the basic rule of proper hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus, many netizens are still aghast and disappointed with how the government is responding to the crisis.
Some Senators even scolded DOH for seemingly caught prepared in containing the epidemic.
Senators Nancy Binay and Imee Marcos slammed DOH for the lack of testing kits which they admitted to have contributed to their ‘unintentional’ under-reporting of COVID-19 cases.
Binay to DOH: I don't want to panic, pero you're making me panic kasi yung naririnig namin ngayon is parang hindi niyo pinaghandaan na magkakaroon tayo ng local transmission.
LIVE: https://t.co/WnGRrN0Ojs
— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) March 9, 2020
Sen. Imee Marcos: Sa bilyon-bilyon na ibinibigay sa DOH, ang testing kit nila ay 2,000 pieces lamang. Tapos nanghihingi sila ng supplemental budget na P2B… sana naman ilagay naman 'yan para sa publiko. Ano bang mas urgent kaysa sa testing kit? | via @_katrinadomingo #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/XvCIZ3mFct
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) March 9, 2020
The lack of sufficient testing supplies might have led to an “unintentional underreporting” of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines, the DOH admitted. #COVID19 | @DJEsguerraINQ https://t.co/mjie83ItWK
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) March 9, 2020
All along, @DOHgovph assured the public that they are ready for #COVID19 #coronavirus
The admission from @DOHgov & the exposé from Sen. Nancy Binay it showed our admin lacks competent leaders and outright liars too..?https://t.co/Z1OQLMKuQT
— Zaldy Tor (@zaldytor) March 9, 2020
Many netizens have also blamed the cuts made on DOH’s budget which led to being ill-prepared for COVID-19 surveillance and containment.
This government alloted P36,000,000,000 to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict which only caused human rights violations. Meanwhile, the Duterte-led congress cut the DOH budget by P10,000,000,000 and reduced the budget for disease surveillance by 56%.
— patrick (@patrickjosefdc) March 9, 2020
COVID-19 in context:
Amidst crisis, alalahanin natin na ang kongreso ay nag budget cut ng 10 BILLION PESOS sa DOH for 2020. #DuterteVirus
— Ivan Sucgang #JoinLFS (@IvanSucgang_LFS) March 9, 2020
COVID-19 infections will soon reach thousands – and Duterte engineered the pandemic: the 10B DOH budget cut, kissing up to China, not listening to authorities so now we have no preventive measures, etc. If he so badly wants to die, let's not let him take us with him. #OustDuterte
— Renee Co (@c_o_renee) March 9, 2020
DOH has some explaining to do in this current nCOVID19 fiasco, but we shouldn't forget how Duterte cut the health budget to prioritize his 'intel' programs.
Misallocation of budget by this incompetent admin. If he wants to die so badly, let's not let him take us with him.
— ً (@raphaelmiguel) March 9, 2020
Meanwhile, also at the presscon in Malacanang, the President declared class suspension in all levels in Metro Manila from March 10 to 14. Some lawmakers in Congress even suggested a lockdown of the metro to contain the virus. The President, however, said it’s too early for such a drastic measure.
