Pasay City councilor screams at health workers for test set-up in session hall

The Philippine Association of Medical Technologists, Inc. (PAMET) has denounced a Pasay City councilor's tirade at city health workers for using the city council's session hall as a venue to test city hall employees for COVID-19.

In a video seen in Mai Bermudez’s 24 Oras report on Sunday, Pasay City councilor Arnel “Moti” Arceo can be heard shouting at and cursing the city health workers for conducting the rapid testing of city hall employees at their session hall.

“Ganiyan ba kaikli mga pagiisip niyo? […] Araw-araw namin dini-disinfect ‘yan eh. Session hall namin ‘yan. Nagpaalam ba kayo sa amin lahat? Eh lahat kami gumagamit niyan eh,” Arceo screamed at the health workers. 

“Kung hindi delikado bakit naka-PPE pa kayo? Delikado ba o hindi? Bakit naka-PPE kayo lahat? Bakit hindi sa opisina ninyo ginawa ‘yan? Bakit dito sa amin? Diyos ko naman. Tapos sasabihin niyo ‘wag akong sumigaw,” he added.

For PAMET, Arceo’s rant at the health workers is a form of maltreatment, harassment and discrimination of health care professionals amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“‘Wag nating pabayaang tuluyang sumuko ang ating mga health care workers hindi dahil sa COVID-19 virus, kung hindi dahil sa posibleng pagbaba ng moral dahil sa mga ganitong mga pangyayari,” PAMET president Dr. Ronaldo Puno told GMA News.

Arceo later apologized to city health workers andsaid that he had not been immediately informed that the rapid testing would be held at the session hall.

“Sinabi ko wala akong personal na galit sa inyo. Nagalit ako, napasigaw ako, nagmura ako, pasensiya na kayo,” Arceo said.

“Kahit sa mga ospital ‘yong mga testing center nakahiwalay, nasa labas. Ang mabigat noon kung may nag-positive, ‘di ba? E di nalagay sa panganib ang buhay,” he added.

GMA News has reached out to the Pasay City Health Office and the Human Resource Management and Development Office for comment. 

Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said she has already called a meeting with Arceo and the city health workers. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News