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Sotto on Duque’s ‘flatten the curve’ remark: ‘Baka fatten; daming tumaba’


Senate President Vicente Sotto III sprinkled a little bit of humor on the confusion caused by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III's pronouncement earlier that the Philippines already flattened the COVID-19 curve.

"Baka fatten the curve ang ibig niyang sabihin. Daming tumaba," Sotto said in jest in a message to reporters.

Earlier in the day, Duque claimed the epidemiologic curve in the country had "flattened" as early as April, only to take back what he said and clarify that the proper term to use was "bent."

With 58,850 COVID-19 cases confirmed in the Philippines, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also doubted Duque's claim.

"OMG! Dear Secretary Duque, with all due respect, please tell us what curve is flattening?" Zubiri said.

"The only thing that is flat are the backs of all the poor patients in fully occupied COVID wards all around Metro Manila fighting for their lives! Huwag magbulag-bulagan, and act to stop the surge instead of imagining it," he added.

Later on, Zubiri bared that Duque called him to apologize for the confusion he had caused. The senator said he reminded the Cabinet official to be more circumspect in making such pronouncements.

"I'm sure he is under a lot [of] pressure plus the fact that a new member of the Cabinet tested positive for COVID is adding to that. As I said, just tell the truth and give us the guidance on what to do," Zubiri said. — BM, GMA News

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