Malacañang has said that while it was a gamble to leave it to President Duterte to decide on what will happen to the country’s quarantine protocols after June 15, the public can be sure that the Chief Executive will make the right decision for the people and the economy.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement as the public awaits Duterte’s announcement on what will happen to the country’s quarantine, particularly in Metro Manila and Cebu City, both high-risk areas under the general community quarantine.
In an interview over Super Radyo DZBB, Roque said the President will make a decision based on what he thinks is right.
“It’s a gamble po na hinayaan na natin ang Presidente na magdesisyon,” he said. “Pero alam ninyo naman ang Presidente, nagdedesisyon siya sa tingin niya ay tama…So, hintayin na lang po natin talaga ang pronouncement niya,” he added.
Meanwhile, Roque agreed that Metro Manila and Cebu City are better off staying under the GCQ after June 15 because of the high number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in these cities.
However, he said the country is now at the point where it cannot afford to close down the economy again. This is why, he said, the government is now focusing more on strengthening the capacity to provide healthcare.
“Parang hindi pa akma na magbukas nang ganiyan. Pero bahala po ang Presidente kasi binabalanse naman po natin iyong ekonomiya at sapat naman po iyong kakayahan nating magbigay ng medical care,” Roque said.
Roque appealed to the public to stay at home and follow the quarantine and health protocols to prevent the situation from getting worse.
He said that the Duterte administration was not against people expressing their grievances against the government but they should remember that the Philippines is still battling a pandemic.
“Kaunting kooperasyon po. Iyong mga huling araw mayroon na naman pong nagtipon-tipon. Hindi po natin tinututulan ang ating mga karapatan,” Roque said. “Pero ngayon sa panahon na nahihirapan na nga tayo na umusad dahil hindi pa rin napapababa iyong datos ng mga nagkakasakit. Please lang po, homeliners muna po uli,” he added. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)