Angel Locsin and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. Image: Instagram/@therealangellocsin, Facebook/Harry Roque
Angel Locsin has questioned presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s outburst and scolding of medical frontliners who recently opposed plans to place Metro Manila back to a general community quarantine (GCQ).
A leader of a doctors’ association pleaded last Friday, Sept. 10, with the Inter-Agency Task Force to reconsider the decision to relax quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila. Roque then berated the doctors for expressing their discontent. He told them they should instead recognize the government’s efforts in “thinking about economic ramifications” and containing the coronavirus. These efforts are lately being criticized for allegations of corruption.
Locsin questioned Roque’s manner of raising his concerns while showing a screenshot from the now-viral video of the meeting on her Instagram Story yesterday, Sept. 11.
“Naiintindihan ko ‘yung concern para makapaghanap-buhay na ang mga tao. Pero bakit [niya] sinermonan ‘yung mga medical workers natin pagkatapos ipatawag para humingi ng opinyon?” the actress asked. “Di ba spokesperson siya ng presidente? Siya na rin ba [Department of Health] (DOH) o employer ng medical workers?”
(I understand the concern to put people back to work, but why did he scold the medical workers after making them attend to ask for their opinions? Isn’t he the president’s spokesperson? Is he also speaking for the DOH or the medical workers’ employer?)
Locsin also brought up the issue on delayed benefits of health care workers amid a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant.
“Ang employee may karapatan na benefits. Ibigay kaya muna ‘yung benefits na hindi pa nababayaran,” she added. (Employees have the right to benefits. Give them the benefits that they have not received yet.)
Image: Instagram/@therealangellocsin
Roque has since apologized for being “emotional” during the IATF meeting but stood by his remarks against the medical experts’ proposal. According to him, he made those statements on behalf of those who are going “hungry” due to the tighter COVID-19 restrictions.
Metro Manila was supposed to downgrade to a GCQ and pilot test granular lockdowns in small areas with high COVID-19 cases. The IATF recalled this decision and extended the modified enhanced community quarantine in the region. JB
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