Palace to Alvarez: You’re wrong, data shows gov’t didn’t fail in pandemic response

Malacañang called out former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez over his claim that the Duterte administration was failing in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. cited the Philippines’ global standing in terms of responding to the pandemic.

“Hindi po [tayo failure]. Sa lahat ng magsasabi na mahina ang response natin, how do you explain the fact po na ngayon sa Southeast Asia, pang-anim na lang tayo. At sa buong mundo, ito po ay galing sa Johns Hopkins [University]. We are Number 24 worldwide pagdating sa total cases; aktibong kaso – 29th; cases per 100,000 – 132,” Roque said.

(We did not fail. To those saying that we are failing, then how do you explain the fact that we are sixth in Southeast Asia in total COVID-19 cases and we are 24th worldwide. On active cases, we are at 29th while our cases per 100,000 people, we are ranked 132.)

“At ang pinakaimportante, we are only 86th in the whole world as far as iyong mga namamatay. One death is too much, totoo po iyan, pero in relation to the whole world, Number 86. So to those na nagsasabi na mali at mahina ang COVID response, I am sorry, you’re wrong; and the data will support us,” Roque added.

(Most importantly, we are only 86th worldwide in fatality rate. So to those saying we are wrong and we are weak in terms of COVID-19 response, I am sorry but you are wrong and the data will support us.)

Roque also earlier said that the government did not lack foresight in terms of preparing for the more transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus even if the government.

Roque made this argument even if the government is yet to grant P100 million funding that the Philippine Genome Center

“I disagree that there was lack of foresight because we have vigorous testing. We know who is infected, regardless of the variant. Pareho ang protocol na isolation, contact tracing and treatment [The protocol for all variants are the same],” Roque said.

In a television interview, Alvarez expressed his disappointment over the Duterte administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Mahirap mag-grado dahil kasi kaniya-kaniyang pananaw 'yan. Pero para sa akin, having supported the President noong tumakbo siya, 'yung expectation ko malaki. Now natapos na ‘yung term I should be frank enough to say na I am disappointed." Alvarez told ANC.

(It's difficult to give a rating because we have different opinions. But for me, having supported the President when he ran for office, my expectations are high. Now, I should be frank enough to say that I am disappointed.)

It is unclear when Alvarez’s relationship with President Duterte soured, but Alvarez was removed as Speaker of the House in a stunning fashion in July 2018 and on the same day of the President's third State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Alvarez was removed as House leader after noontime, with over 200 House members electing then Pampanga representative Gloria Arroyo as the new speaker.

A day after Arroyo was elected Speaker, she and her allies met with the President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. -MDM, GMA News