Makabayan solons hit Duterte's photo 'busy' with paperworks: Photo ops

Members of the Makabayan Bloc on Thursday slammed the photos, released by Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, showing President Rodrigo Duterte's busy with lots of paperwork.

In a virtual press conference, the progressive lawmakers said the latest pictures of Duterte and Go, his former aide, were only "photo ops."

For Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas, Duterte had a private session in the time when a special session is needed to address the pandemic.

Brosas has been calling for a special session for Congress to discuss the proposed third Bayanihan law, which may help low-income families during the health crisis.

"Mahigit isang linggo na, missing in action pa rin si Pangulong Duterte. Umaapaw na ang mga ospital, gutom na ang mamamayan dahil sa kakarampot na ayuda, pero photo ops lang ang ibinigay ng Palasyo," Brosas said.

(It's been more than a week and President Duterte is still missing in action. Hospitals are already full, Filipinos are experiencing hunger because of insufficient aid, however, the Palace only gave photo ops.)

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate said the President should always be at the forefront to prove that he is doing something, especially now that the Philippines is facing a lot of problems, including the pandemic and the presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

"Ang isang Pangulo ay dapat nasa unahan para ipakita niya na (A President should always be at the forefront to show that ) he is on top of the situation. But, it appears, he's just there, sitting on the situation. Nagphophoto ops lang," Zarate said.

On the other hand, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Eufemia Cullamat said it is clear that Filipinos cannot see the response of Duterte to the issues hounding the country.

"Malinaw na di natin nakikita ang tugon ng ating Presidente na dapat kung ano man ang problema sa bansa, dapat siya ang nakikita na nasa unahan kung paano ito bibigyan ng solusyon. Sa ganitong sitwasyon ng bansa, malinaw na buong bayan ang naghahanap sa kanya," she said.

(It is clear that we cannot see the response of the President. He should be at the forefront, solving our problems. In this situation, it is clear that the whole nation is looking for him.)

Go said he posted the photos to dispel speculations that Duterte suffered a mild heart attack.

The President's weekly Talk to the People was cancelled, however, Go said it was because of the increase on COVID-19 infections among members of the Presidential Security Group.

He said Duterte was negative for COVID-19 based on the latest result of the latter's swab test.—AOL, GMA News