Palace On WHO Report: Duterte Doing His Best

We are not perfect – Roque

- Alexis Romero

President Duterte has urged critics to stop politicking while the country is grappling with the pandemic, Malacañang said yesterday, as it disputed a World Health Organization (WHO) report that the Philippines has the fastest increase in infections in the Western Pacific.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the President was doing his best and that while the government’s response to coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 was not perfect, the health crisis remains under control.

“Did the government make the right move? Our answer is yes. We are not perfect. Perhaps we could have done better. But we are already here and one thing I can assure you, the President did the very best that he can and we are in control of the situation,” he said at a press briefing.

“You know, the President only has one message – stop politics during COVID-19. But criticisms continue to be hurled at us and we have to respond to them. They said there are shortcomings. We asked them what they are... but they did not give any,” he added.

Roque said quarantine measures, including lockdowns, have spared the country from having to deal with 3.6 million COVID-19 cases. “We imposed an enhanced community quarantine and the growth of the cases slowed and we are capable of treating those who are sick.”

The government also disputed WHO data stating that the Philippines has the fastest increase in COVID-19 cases in the Western Pacific.

“We beg to disagree. If you look at the increase in the number of cases, it should be in relation to your population. Why compare it to Singapore, which has (a population of) five million? It’s just as big as one city,” Roque said.