Journalist Karen Davila slammed the politicians who were asking members of the Department of Health (DOH) surveillance team to be tested for COVID-19 at the comfort of their homes.
On her tweet, Davila shared a testimony from a doctor who expressed frustration over the politicians who wanted to be prioritized for COVID-19 testing despite not showing any symptoms.
“This is bogging down the COVID-19 testing. Politicians and their staff are now asking to be serviced in their homes by the DOH surveillance team. We have so many PUIs awaiting their results, and we can’t send (home) the PUMs who have been admitted the week before because we don’t have results yet. Perhaps, if the media can investigate this ‘palakasan’ system, we might be able to alleviate the overburdened emergency rooms. As of yesterday, ER is already full,” the statement reads.
After reading the statement from the doctor, Davila said that “politicians should stop feeling entitled”
“Ibang klase. “Politicians and their staff now asking to be serviced in their homes by DOH surveillance team” THIS. MUST. STOP,” Davila said.
Ibang klase. “Politicians and their staff now askkng to be serviced in their homes by DOH surveillance team” THIS. MUST. STOP. Politicians should stop feeling entitled. (Post from @chiarazambrano) pic.twitter.com/1ZJMF5FTkJ
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) March 21, 2020
“Nakakagalit. Tumigil na kayong mga pulitiko at staff ninyo na nagpapa-test pa sa bahay pa sa ating DOH surveillance team. Dapat lahat ng pangalan nyo mabunyag sa totoo lang,” she added.
Nakakagalit. Tumigil na kayong mga pulitiko at staff ninyo na nagpapa-test pa sa bahay pa sa ating DOH surveillance team. Dapat lahat ng pangalan nyo mabunyag sa totoo lang.
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) March 21, 2020
Several followers of Davila then criticized President Rodrigo Duterte and his family for being prioritized to be tested first for COVID-19.
“All of the Duterte family got tested despite not showing any symptoms,” netizen @markyful said.
Why dont we start a thread of all those politicians and their relatives? pic.twitter.com/MTI5dCQj6Z
— Marky (@MarkyFul) March 21, 2020
“Ito…Galing sa news items: Bong Go, head ng PSG, Honeylet, Kitty, Paolo and Baste Duterte, Medialdea, Mark Villar Tugade, Domingues, Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, Zubiri and wife, Jonvic and staff nya (nag sorry), Sotto, Pia Cayetano, Grace Poe, Lacson, Tolentino, Marcos,” netizen @daphine commented.
Ito…Galing sa news items:Bong Go, head ng PSG, Honeylet, Kitty, Paolo and Baste Duterte , Medialdea, Mark Villar Tugade, Domingues, Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, Zubiri and wife, Jonvic and staff nya (nsgsorry), Sotto, Pia Cayetano, Grace Poe, Lacson, Tolentino, Marcos.
— daphine3 (@daphine36) March 21, 2020
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III defended the first family for getting tested immediately despite not showing any symptoms of COVID-19.
According to Duque, the first family was exposed to a known case.
DOH reported that more than 125,000 test kits from China, South Korea arrived in the country.