Defeated Senatorial candidate and former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for doing “perpetual isolation” to protect his health.
In a tweet, the known critic of the current administration said that the perpetual isolation showed the incapacity of Duterte to do his job.
He also believed that a true leader would not choose to hide in the middle of the crisis happening in the country.
“Perpetual isolation in the midst of a pandemic is incapacity to perform the functions of the office,” said Hilbay.
“A true leader will not selfishly hide while the nation is suffering,” he added.
"perpetual isolation" in the midst of a pandemic is incapacity to perform the functions of the office.
a true leader will not selfishly hide while the nation is suffering.
— Pilo Hilbay (@fthilbay) August 17, 2020
Malacanang said that Duterte volunteered to isolate himself after one of his cabinet members, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año tested positive with COVID-19.
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) assured that no one would get close to Duterte because of health reasons.
“The president is in perpetual isolation because no one can come close to him, whenever we meet with him there’s a velvet rope that keeps him at least six feet away from everyone else. No one can really come close to the president,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
“He is in perpetual isolation in the sense that PSG has done a very good job in making sure that no one really comes close to the president,” he added.
The President seems cooperating now with the PSG when it comes to health protocols.
In March, President Duterte complained about the “no-touch policy” being imposed by the PSG.
“Kalokohan ‘yan.I will shake hands … Anak, ilang [beses] ko bang sinasabi na sa iyo na kung tawagin ang Diyos sa oras na ito, pupunta na ako.Tapos na ako.Naging Presidente na ako, pinakamataas na maabot ng isang tao, mga anak ko okay na,” the President said.