The Philippines on August 20 recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases amid the Department of Health’s (DOH) most recent issue, causing personalities and Netizens to blame the health department for the infection spike.
Over 17,231 new COVID cases reported a new record-high since the start of the pandemic—bringing the total of infections in the country to 1,807,800.
A growing concern for Filipinos as the Commission on Audit (COA) earlier on August 12 flagged the DOH for the missing P67.32 billion fund that was meant to be the country’s COVID-19 response.
The deficiencies prompted singer Leah Navarro to pray that the Philippines get freed from the hands of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and his minions, like Health chief Francisco Duque III.
Good grief. Please, God, save us from Duterte, Duque, Dr. Sit Down, the IATF, their enablers and sycophants. They are killing us! https://t.co/ThQzthxRvz
— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) August 20, 2021
A twitter personality also blamed the Duterte administration as one of the reasons behind the current pandemic situation in the country– especially now that the DOH is being accused of corruption paired with Duque’s incompetence in leading the agency.
Habang #DutertePalpak yung nasa Malacañang, di tayo makakaahon sa #COVID19 pandemic
Granted mahirap ang pandemya—but it’s definitely made worse by a sleeping inutil president who put retired generals & an incompetent Duque at the IATF #DuterteWakasan #DutertePinakaCORRUPT
— MrsHan (@MoxieLi) August 20, 2021
Another twitter personality, Jaecee Lim even called the Duterte government “stupid” as it put the country back in modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) after the surge of positive cases.
Tapos tsaka sila nag MECQ kasi narealize nilang tanga sila!
— jaecee lim (@jaeceelim) August 20, 2021
Pediatric neurosurgeon and Twitter personality Ronnie Baticulon expressed his anger to the Government as he tweeted that “officials and advisers have refused to admit their mistakes” while praising “themselves for doing the bare minimum while flaunting their privilege and misuse of power.”
No, I’m not telling you to be hopeful. If anything, be filled with rage at how our government officials & advisers have refused to admit their mistakes, choosing to praise themselves for doing the bare minimum while flaunting their privilege and misuse of power. No end in sight. https://t.co/QxkBhkQgOp
— Ronnie E. Baticulon (@ronibats) August 20, 2021
A netizen even ridiculed Duque as she shared a meme depicting the Health Secretary busy counting his “stolen money.”
https://twitter.com/Astro_Frankie/status/1428633523762593797
Meanwhile, a Netizen took a swipe at Duterte’s supporters as she concluded that they (DDS) should not be worried about the growing Covid cases since Duque’s yardstick has ‘improved’.
https://twitter.com/gracialazar/status/1428679866119950343
A twitter personality was also outraged by Duque as he remained the health chief despite the COA controversy and mismanagement of COVID response while the Senate’s Health Secretary, Senator Bong Go is busy working on his presidential aspiration.
Good grief, the statistics are frightening. How is one not to be outraged at DOH negligence, or Duque still being on the job and Senate Health Secretary Go working on his presidential aspirations. I'm incensed.
— JoeAm (@societyofhonor) August 20, 2021
TV personality Kiko Rustia as well as TV and film writer Arah Badayos could not believe the amount of Covid-19 cases recorded in just a single day.
Damn. https://t.co/RAymgCEDfR
— kiko rustia (@kikorustia) August 20, 2021
17 fucking thousand?! T**g*na! https://t.co/pWPfUQ9HRc
— Arah Badayos (@arahjell) August 20, 2021
In the meantime, social media personalities like DJ Slick Rick reminded everyone to be safe and stay at home, advising that if it’s necessary to go out, one should “double mask up.”
Be safe. Stay home & if you do go out, double mask up! https://t.co/uUkJGmOAth
— DJ Slick Rick (@_slickrick) August 20, 2021
As of this time, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has reached 1,807,800. Its breakdown is 123,251 cases, 1,653,351 total recoveries, and 31,198 overall deaths.
