61-year-old beggar stays away from home amid quarantine: Baka ma-infect ko mga apo ko

Senior citizens are advised to stay at home due to their vulnerability to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), yet a 61-year-old beggar chose to stay out for  fear of infecting his grandchildren.

According to Raffy Tima's Thursday report on 24 Oras,  Roberto Morga was a beggar who was stationed on the footbridge at Quezon Avenue.

"Mga apo ko naman po, ang dami, baka ma-infect ko po," Morga said.

When the enhanced community quarantine was implemented, Morga said he barely earned. Though some passersby would give him food, drunkards would sometimes take them away.

Morga, who is suffering from an eye disability and arthritis, was unable to do anything whenever this happens.

"Pag may nagbibigay ng pagkain tapos naagaw pa nga ng mga lasingero diyan. Hapon-haponan ko na lang po 'yan tapos kukunin pa niyo. Binigay na nga lang sa akin 'yan," he said.

According to the latest census, there are around 7.5 million senior citizens in the country.

This number included Remedio and Delfin, both senior citizens who were seen on the streets despite the quarantine to visit the wake of their friend.

"Eh, barkada namin. Icre-cremate ng Biernes, ililibing ng Sabado," Delfin Dalena said.

Due to lack of public transportation, the two were forced to walk a few kilometers to their destination.

"Natatakot din [sa virus], kaya lang ano pa magagawa mo? Syempre kailanga mag-ingat na lang," Remedio, meanwhile, said.

Authorities have advised residents to refrain from leaving their houses unless necessary.

However, based on guidelines released by the Inter-Agency Task Force, only buying food supply or medicine were considered important activities, according to the report. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News