Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 16) — President Rodrigo Duterte was not belittling the struggles of Filipinos amid the COVID-19 pandemic with a recent remark about the prolonged difficulties, his spokesman said Tuesday.
“Ang sinasabi po ng Presidente ay patuloy naman pong ang Pilipinas ay nabubuhay sa kabila ng COVID-19,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque during a virtual briefing. Roque’s explanation came after Duterte’s comment drew flak from critics.
Duterte, during his public address Monday night, told the public not to despair amid the pandemic.
“Kaya natin ito COVID na ito. Maliit na bagay ito sa buhay natin. Marami tayong dinaanan…mas grabe, mas mahirap, mas magluluha kayo,” said the chief executive.
[Translation: We can handle this COVID. This is but a small thing in our lives. We have gone through more intense, more difficult, more tear-jerking experiences.]
The spokesman took the opportunity to emphasize anew how the country has fewer deaths from the coronavirus infection compared to richer, more developed nations.
“Hindi po minamaliit ng Presidente ang ating paghihirap pero ang sinasabi po niya eh babangon naman po tayo diyan, we will heal as one,” said Roque, adding this time is near especially with government’s efforts to procure vaccines as soon as possible.
[Translation: The President is not belittling our struggles but what he is saying is that we will get back up again, we will heal as one.]
The President’s remark has been met with criticism, with some lawmakers emphasizing how so many Filipinos have gone out of work and even lost lives because of the pandemic.
“Hindi ito maliit na bagay para sa mamamayang Pilipino at nakakabahalang maliit na bagay ang pagtingin ng ating pangulo sa napakalaking problema na idinulot ng kaniyang palpak na mga polisiya sa araw-araw na buhay ng mamamayan,” said ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro.
[Translation: This is not a small deal for Filipino and it is disturbing that our President looks at the huge problem his failed policies have caused the everyday lives of citizens as something minor.]
Meanwhile, Sen. Leila de Lima noted that his effort to provide the public assurance is “bereft of a legitimate plan and legitimate leadership.”
The Philippines has recorded over 631,000 cases of COVID-19 and although 560,000 have recovered, the virus has claimed at least 12,800 lives. With the pandemic crippling the economy, some 4 million Filipinos were out of work as of January this year, up from the 2.4 million in the same month in 2020.
The economy remains in recession, with its full-year 2020 contraction hitting -9.5%, the worst performance since the government began collecting economic data in 1946.
