Duterte to critics: COVID-19 is the enemy, not government

The enemy amid the pandemic is the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and not the Philippine government, President Rodrigo Duterte told critics late Sunday evening.

“Sabi naman ng iba, ‘Paano ba itong gobyernong ‘to?’ Gamitin mo nga utak mo p— ina. COVID is the enemy, not government,” he said in a televised meeting in Malacañang, during which medical workers’ call for a two-week “timeout” in Metro Manila was discussed.

“Government is trying to control [COVID-19]. In fact, government put you in prison in your house kaya lang anong nangyari? Maraming hindi sumunod,” he added.

However, contrary to government officials’ branding of Filipinos as “pasaway” or recalcitrant, several polls have found that Filipinos are conscientious about observing health protocols.

A July survey by the Social Weather Stations found that 76 percent of adult Filipinos continued to practice the minimum health standards.

Another survey by a London-based group also found that 91 percent of Filipinos wear masks whenever they go out and 83 percent wash their hands regularly with soap and water.

Meanwhile, Duterte renewed his support for his embattled health chief Francisco Duque III amid continued calls for his resignation.

“Anong kasalanan ng tao? He did not import COVID. He was there all the time and ang infection was overwhelming not only for the Philippines,” he said.

Senators and medical groups previously blasted Duque’s leadership amid the pandemic following his blunders on the supposed second wave of infections and the flattening of the curve of COVID-19 cases. — DVM, GMA News