Doctors' group president says Roque's apology not sincere

The president of a doctors' group who was recently lambasted by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Saturday said the latter's apology was not sincere.

"Unfortunately, hindi ko po naramdaman 'yung sincerity ng kanyang apology. The apology should not be directed to me or 'yung kasama ko po, si Dr. Tony Dans, but dapat po idirekta ang apology na 'yan sa buong health force kasi kami po ay naroon sa IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) as representative of the healthcare workforce," Limpin said in an  interview on Dobol B TV.

(Unfortunately, I could not feel the sincerity of his apology. The apology should not be directed to me or to my companion Dr. Tony Dans, but to the entire health force because we were at the IATF [meeting] as just a representative of the healthcare workforce.)

Limpin then had a message for Roque, saying the Palace official should comment based on facts, not impressions.

"Dapat po bago kayo magsalita, get your facts straight kasi may mga binanggit po kayo na hindi related. So para sa isang presidential spokesperson, importante po na based sa facts, hindi lang based sa impressions ninyo," she said.

(Before you speak, you should get your facts straight because you mentioned some items that are not related [to the issue]. So for a presidential spokesperson, it is important that [any comment] should be based on facts, not just on impressions.)

"Sana ay maging very conscious kayo sa mga actions ninyo. Siyempre po kasi as a spokesperson, you are representing the President," Limpin added.

(We hope you will be very conscious of your actions. Of course as a spokesperson, you are representing the President.)

GMA News Online contacted Roque for comment but has yet to receive a reply.

Limpin however assured that the incident will not get in the way of them working with the IATF.

"Definitely po hindi naman kami talagang magpapapigil doon sa aming dapat gawin lalong lalo na ang pagpapaabot doon sa ating pamahalaan sa Department of Health na kung ano ang possible recommendations," she said.

(Definitely, we will not be stopped from what we should do, especially in letting the government and the Department of Health know our possible recommendations.)

"Tandaan lang po natin na lahat ng sinasabi namin ay based on facts. Lahat po ng aming recommendations ay based on evidence," Limpin said.

(Let us just bear in mind that all of what we are saying are based on facts. All our recommendations are based on evidence.)

Scolding incident

During a recent meeting of the IATF, Limpin and Dr. Antonio Dans, convenor of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19, proposed to the government that a two-week hard lockdown be imposed to address the surge in COVID-19 cases.

In a video post by Philippine Daily Inquirer's Marlon Ramos on Twitter that has since gone viral, Roque was seen scolding the doctors during the meeting while asserting that the government is also doing its part in containing the virus.

“Do not sit there as if you are the only ones right. We’re trying to achieve total health. Who wants COVID to kill people? Are you saying that only medical frontliners are concerned about the health of the people? We all want to save lives," a visibly agitated Roque said in the video.

“We’re crying out loud. No one in the government wants a single life lost. No one! How dare you think that we are not considering steps to prevent the loss of lives?” he added.

Prior to the press briefing, Limpin said she was “very surprised” that Roque reacted angrily to the suggestion.

“Wala akong sinabi (I did not say something that) can be interpreted as being arrogant," she told Super Radyo dzBB.

On Friday, Roque apologized for his outburst, admitting he got "emotional."

"Kinukumpirma ko po na tayo'y naging emosyonal at pasensiya naman po kayo at tao lamang [I confirm that I got emotional. I am sorry. I’m just human]," he said.

“That’s the first time that I lost my bearing in an IATF meeting, but as I said I may apologize and I have in fact apologized for the manner but never for the message.”

"To those na hindi nakakaintindi doon sa tindi ng aking pagdaramdam, para doon sa mga naghihirap, I apologize. But I cannot apologize for the message," Roque said, in response to calls for him to apologize to frontliners.

(To those who could not understand the intensity of my emotions, for those who are having a hard time [during this pandemic], I apologize.)

Roque said the government should do away with hard lockdowns as people need to earn a living. He also said the government is ramping up vaccination efforts so that it can reopen the economy safely.

The Palace official added that he spoke on behalf of those who suffer from hunger and poverty due to lockdowns.

“Nagalit po talaga ako dahil sa tingin ko panahon na po na marinig ang inyong boses ng IATF. Tama na po ang lockdown. Magtatagal po talaga ang COVID hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong daigdig,” he said.

(I got angry because I think it’s time for the IATF to hear the voice of the people. Let’s stop this lockdown. COVID-19 is here for the long haul, not just in the Philippines, but also across the globe).

He said there is a need to find a balance between health and the economy.

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Health Workers on Friday called for the resignation of Roque over his outburst.

"Matagal na siya sa gobyerno. Maraming pagkakataon na hindi niya sinasabi ang totoo... Mag-resign para mabago naman ang ating Gabinete. At ang mga taong sinsero na lang ang ipalit," said Robert Mendoza from the Alliance of Health Workers.

(He's been in government a long time, and there have been numerous occasions when he's been untruthful... He should resign so there would be a change in the Cabinet. And replace him with someone sincere.) —with a report from Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News