By GENALYN KABILING
President Duterte has rallied the nation to pray together today, Holy Wednesday, to enable the country to defeat the coronavirus pandemic.
The President issued the call for prayer and solidarity after recognizing the grave threat posed by the new coronavirus disease on the local economy and the people.
“This being the Holy Week, I am calling on the nation to come together this Holy Wednesday afternoon and pay tribute to the indomitable spirit of the Filipino and unite in one prayer to God to fight our common enemy,” Duterte said in a public address last Monday night. “God is the only one who can really solve the problem for us,” he added.
The President admitted that although he no longer goes to mass, he often prayed for the country. “Nagdadasal ako. Basta nagdasal ako para sa bayan kasi ang iba, iba ang Diyos nila,” he said.
Duterte acknowledged that the people will suffer as long as there is no vaccine for the coronavirus.
The coronavirus also poses a problem for the nation especially since the government has limited funds for the COVID response, including the social amelioration program for the vulnerable sectors, according to the President. “It might not really cripple a country but it will of course you know cause sadness and fear kung paano tayo makaraos dito,” he said.
Duterte appealed anew to the public to observe the strict home quarantine to help contain the spread of the coronavirus. He said the public should also wear face masks and practice social distancing to avoid getting infected.
The Chief Executivfe also appealed for the “utmost cooperation” of the public in these trying times. “Let us heed the needs of our poor brothers and sisters who are hit most by the pandemic,” he added.
He said he has directed Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to look for additional funds to augment the government’s limited resources. He also suggested realigning some items in the 2020 national budget to source more funds for programs such as the social amelioration program for the “poorest of the poor” and possibly the middle-income families.
He warned enemies of the state against testing the government’s resolve amid the health crisis. “Sinabi ko na sa inyo huwag. Now ngayon, it’s a thing which is – I said rampaging all throughout our country and every country for that matter. Huwag ninyong subukan ang gobyerno kasi pati ang gobyerno desperado na,” he said.
Meanwhile, Duterte said he may just give way to self-proclaimed “president” Elly Pamatong if he has the supposed solution to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President said he is willing to speak to Pamatong about his solution to the country’s health emergency in Malacañang.
“Sabi niya siya lang ang maka – he will solve the problem in three weeks. Eh ‘di sabi niya ang military kailangan arestuhin because nandito ako ready to solve the pandemic that has struck the entire planet Earth and he will solve the problem. Tama,” Duterte said. “Kung ganoon lang siya, tama. I agree. Kung magpunta siya dito, mag-usap kami. Kung ang solusyon niya okay, and then sabihin ko sa military na, ‘Adre, tama si Pamatong. Alis na ako,'” he said in jest.
Pamatong reportedly wants the military to arrest Duterte and disclosed plans to establish a quarantine island to curb the outbreak of the disease. He was suspended by the Supreme Court from practicing law and is a frequent nuisance candidate in the elections.
Duterte had previously described Pamatong as “pretender to the throne” in 2017 after he proclaimed himself to be the country’s leader.
