Members of the Church of God International (MCGI) and television show Ang Dating Daan (ADD) leader Eli Soriano complained why the political enemies of President Rodrigo Duterte are still criticizing the chief executive even during the middle of COVID-19 outbreak.
On a live video, Soriano said that he understood the gravity of problems being faced by President Rodrigo Duterte and urged his critics to unite and help the government to fight COVID-19 in the Philippines.
He defended the decision of the President, especially the deployment of the military during the period of community quarantine in Luzon.
“Ang masasabi ko lang sa mga kontra-partido ni Presidente Duterte, sana kalimutan niyo na muna yung politika, eh bakit kailangan ng sundalo? E mayroong matigas ng ulo kaya kailangan nga ng sundalo, hindi naman para pagmalupitan ang tao, para lang hindi mapigil ang pagkalat ng virus,” Soriano said.
Soriano then mentioned how COVID-19 became uncontrollable in Italy and affected millions of its residents.
He then compared Italy’s health care system to the Philippines, saying that Filipinos might not handle the same problem that the Italians faced.
“Hindi ka sakit mmatay, kundi mmmatay ka sa pagbabayad,” he said.
Soriano urged the critics of the government and also Vice President Leni Robredo to just cooperate with President Duterte instead of opposing his actions against COVID-19.
“Yung mga politiko sana wag na po kayong tutol ng tutol, makipag cooperate na kayo, gusto ko sanang humingi ng personal na pakiusap sa Bise Presidente, kasi tuwing magpapahayag ang Bise Presidente eh it seems na para sa akin ay palagi siyang kontra kay Presidente Duterte,” Soriano said.
“Kaya nga nalagay siyang Presidente ay niloob ng Diyos, imbis na kontrahin natin ng kontrahin ay ating tulungan, mag isip ka kung paano ka makakatulong Bise Presidente, na hindi lagi ang deklarasyon mo kontra sa Duterte administration, kalimutan na muna natin ang politika, Bise Presidente Robredo, sumama ka sa panalangin,” he added.
He reiterated that people should disregard politics amid the COVID-19 outbreak and think of things that could help the government and their neighbors.
“Hindi po ito panahon ng politika, panahon po ito ng compassion, understanding, consideration, wag niyo pong awayin ang mga pulis kababayan,” he said.