Vice President Leni Robredo complained about how the government seems to focus too much on maintaining the law and order amid the community quarantine in Metro Manila instead of giving their attention to the health workers treating COVID-19 patients.
In her radio program “Biserbisyong Leni” the Vice President cited that the government should give more of their support to the health workers because the COVID-19 outbreak is a health concern and not a peace and order issue.
“Ngayon kasi, parang nangingibabaw ulit ‘yung public order and safety na dapat sana supportive lang siya sa health concern,” Robredo said.
“Sana hindi grabe ‘yung focus sa military, sa kapulisan kasi ito, health concern ito,” she added.
She also suggested that the government should create another sub-committee in the IATF-EID that will focus on the people affected by the community quarantine.
On her social media post, she also asked her followers to help the health workers by sending donations to them.
The Vice President clarified that they’re not accepting cash donations, that’s why she asked them to deposit the money to their private partner “Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership.”
Several groups also criticized the action of the government to deploy soldiers and cops during the community quarantine period.
The community quarantine in Metro Manila came into effect on March 15.
Thousands of Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) members were deployed in different locations in Metro Manila to ensure that all people that are going inside and outside of Manila are not showing symptoms of COVID-19.
According to the reports, there are 200 checkpoints placed in different entry-points of Metro Manila.