If he was the mayor of Talisay City in Cebu, President Duterte would have thrown in jail the people defying the strict quarantine protocols in the area.
The President made the candid admission after expressing dismay with some stubborn residents of Cebu who allegedly refused to follow the lockdown rules.
Cebu City is the only place in the country under enhanced community quarantine, the most restrictive lockdown imposed by government, until July 15 due to the soaring cases of infection. Talisay City, on the other hand, has graduated to general community quarantine from the modified enhanced community quarantine.
“Kamong mga Cebuano, ayaw mo’g kasuko nako. Ako gatrabaho lang. Ginabadlong ta mo niadto. Suberbiyo mo eh. Dili tanan, dili tanan pero naa gyud sa inyo (You Cebuanos, don’t get mad at me. I am just doing my job. I am calling your attention for being recalcitrant. Not all of you, but some of you are),” the President said during his televised address Tuesday night.
“Ang Talisay. Suwerte mo kay ako’y na mayor sa Talisay, bukbok tanan. T*** i** ipreso – kanang presohan sa Talisay isulod ta mo tanan diha. Dili mo mutuo eh (Ang Talisay…You are very lucky because if I were the mayor of Talisay, I would have locked you all up in jail because you refuse to follow),” he said.
Duterte claimed that Talisay City was “like a marketplace everyday” as many people were flouting stay-at-home policy “Nag-iinuman kayo diyan, nagsusugal almost nonchalant of the dangers that were lurking around,” he said.
The President also said Cebu City has become the “hotspot” of coronavirus cases. He said many residents have become infected with the illness while while Cebu City’s hospitals are “having a hard time coping” with the cases.
“Now kamong mga Cebuano, masuko mo’g muingon ko’g gahi mo’g ulo. Actually, ayaw mo’g kainsulto kay Cebuano ko,” he said.
Duterte admitted that he was saddened by the increase in coronavirus cases in the country. He urged anew the public to comply with the government’s quarantine rules to avoid infection.
“You want me to say what I feel? I am sad and I am… Para akong nawalaan ng hangin dito,” he said, as he read the June 30 cases of coronavirus in the country. (Genalyn Kabiling)