Progressive solons condemn Duterte's 'maliit na bagay' remark amid rising COVID-19 cases

Some progressive lawmakers on Tuesday slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for saying that the recent increase in COVID-19 infections was no cause for too much concern.

Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas said Duterte's remark was an insult to those who got infected with COVID-19 and to those who lost their loved ones due to the disease as well as to those who lost their jobs as a result of the health crisis.

"Insulto ang pahayag na ito ni Pangulong Duterte sa mga namatayan at nagkasakit dahil sa COVID-19, sa milyun-milyong nawalan ng trabaho at hanapbuhay, sa libu-libong inaresto at ikinulong na mahihirap dahil umano sa paglabag sa protocols, at sa mga pamilyang kailangang tiisin ang hirap at gutom," Brosas said in a statement.

(President Duterte's remark was an insult to those who lost their loved ones and who got infected with COVID-19, to millions of Filipinos who lost their jobs, to thousands who got arrested for allegedly violating quarantine protocols, and to all families who suffer amid the pandemic.)

"Hindi 'maliit na bagay' ang dinaranas ng kababaihan at mamamayang Pilipino sa gitna ng pandemya, krisis at palpak na pamumuno ni Duterte. We are living through the worst health and economic crisis on record with the fascist military generals in charge. Nasaang planeta ba ang Pangulo?" she added.

(The plight of women and other citizens amid the pandemic is not a small thing. Is the President not on Earth?)

Duterte's pronouncement showed how he is detached from the plight of Filipinos, according to Brosas.

"No wonder we are back to where we are, or even worse, exactly a year after the imposition of the lockdown. Okay lang Mr. President na iwan ninyo kami sa labang ito sa COVID-19. Hindi kailangan ng mamamayan ng inutil na pinuno na once a week lang sumusulpot," Brosas said.

(It's okay, Mr. President, if you leave us in the middle of this health crisis. Filipinos don't need a leader who only shows himself to the public once a week.)

For Bayan Muna party-list Representative Eufemia Cullamat, the COVID-19 pandemic is a huge problem for a lot of Filipinos, especially to the poor sector.

"Kung maliit na bagay sa tulad niya, hindi sa tulad nating mahihirap. Napakalaking suliranin ito sa napakaraming Pilipino, lalo na sa walang hanapbuhay o kulang ang kinikita," Cullamat said.

(If it is a small thing for him, it is a huge issue especially for Filipinos who are unemployed or those who have insufficient earnings.)

She said the lack of mass testing and vaccines as well as inadequate assistance has reflected the kind of administration governing the country.

"Matagal na tayong naiiwan sa kawalang katiyakan. Isang taon ang lumipas na walang maliwanag na plano ang gobyerno kung paano lalampasan ang pandemya," Cullamat said.

(A year has passed and since then, the present administration has no clear plans on curbing the pandemic.)

Meanwhile, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro cited the current state of the education system, which for her, should be a cause for concern.

"Thousands lost their lives from COVID-19, millions more lost their jobs as unemployment reached 4 million. The youth's right to accessible and quality education continues to suffer with the Department of Education's failed blended learning program," Castro said.

"The whole nation is suffering from the incompetent and militaristic policies of the Duterte administration that does little to nothing in addressing the pandemic," she added.

At this point, Castro said Filipinos do not need the "empty words" of the President but they need concrete policies and assistance to defeat the pandemic.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate shared the same sentiment with his colleagues, saying that the one-year battle against the pandemic and its adverse effects on the livelihood of Filipinos should not be downplayed.

Zarate specifically mentioned the plight of the country's medical frontliners.

"Napakalaking usapin na ang ating mga frontline health workers, sa kabila ng kanilang matindi at buwis-buhay na paghihirap at sakripisyo, sa bandang huli ay wala silang mapagpipilian na bakunang  magiging pananggalang nila sa nagpapatuloy na giyerang ito sa COVID-19," he said.

(The plight of health workers amid the pandemic is a huge issue, specifically the fact that they don't have choice when it comes to choosing the vaccine that will protect them against the virus.)

Zarate said the billions of money that was borrowed by the Philippine government in order to procure vaccines is also an important matter. He noted that despite the loans, the government seems to rely on vaccine donations.

In his address on Monday night, Duterte asked Filipinos not to despair as he expressed confidence that Filipinos can beat the pandemic even as cases continue to spike in the previous days.

"Kaya natin ito. Itong COVID-19. Maliit na bagay lang ito. Madami tayong nadaanan. Huwag kayong matakot, hindi ko kayo iwanan," Duterte had said.

(We can beat COVID-19. This is a small matter. We have been through a lot. Do not fear, I will not leave you.)

On Monday, the Philippines reported another record high of 5,404 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total tally to 626,893.—AOL/BM, GMA News