Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 4) — The national government and local government units are not enemies in the fight against COVID-19, Inter-agency Task Force Spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a briefing on Saturday.
The netizen cited the city’s nearly 500 confirmed cases, the highest in the country, and the protest action in Sitio San Roque, which led to the arrest of 21 people who were demanding food packs.
Nograles did not mention Belmonte in particular, but said he “will not allow the national government to be pitted against the LGUs.”
The government is here to help LGUs, who need all the assistance they can get, he said.
“Gaya ng sabi ko, magtulungan po tayo. Hindi po ito panahon na mag-away-away at magkawatak-watak po tayo,” he said.
[Translation: Like what I said, let’s help each other. This is not the time for us to fight and be divided.]
Nograles also thanked local governments for addressing problems arising from the COVID-19 epidemic.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng LGUs na talagang lubus-lubusang tumutulong, ginagampanan ang kanilang tungkulin na napakahirap po para sa kanila to address all of the challenges lalung-lalo na pag napakalaki ng iyong syudad,” he said.
[Translation: We thank all LGUs who exceedingly helped and fulfilled their duties, which have been very difficult for them, to address all of the challenges, especially when you lead a very big city.]
The comment was part of his response to a netizen asking if the government is “too lenient on Quezon City Mayor [Joy] Belmonte.”
