Robredo urges Filipinos to observe quarantine rules

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday urged the public to observe social distancing and follow the government’s rules for the Luzon-wide quarantine to protect themselves from the coronavirus disease.

“Sumunod tayo sa mga patakaran kasi iyong mga patakaran nandiyan iyan para sa ating lahat,” she said in her weekly radio show. “Parating sinasabi na pinaka… pinaka-[safe] na lugar ay sa loob ng bahay.”

Robredo noted, however, that not everyone is “privileged” enough to obey the rules.

“Pero kailangan din kasi bukas iyong mata natin na hindi lahat mayroong ganitong pribelehiyo. Marami sa mga kababayan natin na kahit alam, kahit naiintindihan na kinakailangan ito, nagpupumilit para mabuhay,” she added.

The Armed Forces earlier said it is gearing up for a stricter enforcement of the quarantine after authorities noted a surge in people leaving their homes. 

Meanwhile, Robredo underscored the need for mass testing in combating COVID-19.

She noted that South Korea, often lauded as a model in containing the disease, has slowly begun to reopen some of its stores thanks to mass testing.

“Ang problema sa sakit na ito, kasi ang daming asymptomatic. Puwedeng carrier ka, puwedeng nakakahawa ka, pero wala kang nararamdaman na symptoms. Ito, delikado ito. Delikado ito kasi hindi mo alam na nakakahawa ka,” she said.

Robredo echoed netizens’ calls for mass testing in March as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country steadily rose. 

The Philippines has recorded over 6,000 COVID-19 cases with 572 recoveries and 409 deaths as of Sunday afternoon. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News