The communication manager of the Department of Health’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (DOH-RITM) is being criticized on social media after she downplayed the role of President Rodrigo Duterte on the fight against COVID-19.
On a Facebook post, Geli Blanco of RITM tried to calm down her friends who had watched the Malacanang press conference on Monday by saying that the President doesn’t know what he’s saying.
According to her, President Duterte is not the only one should rely on the fight against the virus.
“To my friends who’ve watched the Malacañan interagency meeting stream last night: Please, do not lose hope. He’s just the President.”
“He may not know what he’s saying but our doctors, healthcare workers, scientists, medical technicians, researchers—hell, even Sec Duque, Dr. Carlos, DOH/RITM execs, public and private hospitals are all working together,”
She ensured the netizens that all health workers are doing their best to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.
“I know for a fact that all hands are on deck, and none of them had been sleeping on the job. I know for a fact that interventions are underway, I know for a fact that supplies are coming, I know for a fact that we can see this through.”
“Please, keep the faith. He’s just the President; there are a lot more of us who knows things for a fact.”
The post of Blanco reached some known supporter of President Duterte and they accused the communication manager of trying to sabotage the government.
On a Facebook post, Blogger Krizette Laureta Chu gives a theory why that the government may be really hiding the real statistics of the virus because the head of the communication office of DOH RITM is an “anti-Duterte”
“SO THERE GOES YOUR THEORY THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS HIDING POSITIVE CASES FROM YOU.” Chu said.
“If the head of the communications team of RITM is anti Duterte, why would she lie to make this government look good?” she added.
Radio host Mark Lopez also urged the government to fire Blanco.
“At the risk of looking and sounding petty, I am going to go out on a limb and call out the Department of Health (Philippines) and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to please FIRE or CANCEL the consultancy or employment contract of your Communications & Engagement Manager, Angeli Jane “Geli” Blanco,” Lopez said.
“Not for anything else, but at this critical point, it really does not inspire confidence and trust when someone who is vehemently anti-Duterte is in charge of Comms of a crucial health agency,” he added.
He explained that it’s not very helpful that the people working in the government like Blanco doesn’t even trust the current administration.
“I am sure Ms Blanco is competent in her craft, but when she is so vocal and so expressive of her hate and distrust against the administration, and her clear choice of politics, I am afraid that this will not be helpful at all. We have enough problems as it is… Tapos may ganito pa na anay sa nakapasok sa mismong gobyerno.”
Blanco is not yet giving a statement on the criticisms being threw against her.