Pampanga expressed their willingness to take care of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Wuhan, China, who are set to put in quarantine once they enter the Philippine territory.

After being opposed by several provinces like Cavite, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac, Governor Dennis Pineda of Pampanga said that they have the capacity to quarantine the OFWs from Hubei Province in China in case that more places are going to reject them.

“If walang gustong tumanggap sa inyo, nandito ang Pampanga para po sa inyo,” Pineda said during seminar against 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV).

“We’re open na tulungan sila. We’ll provide the facilities, right personnel to handle them with proper coordination with DOH, Bureau of Quarantine, Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital, and the provincial government,” the governor added.

Pineda made the statement after Capas Tarlac Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan opposed the plan of the government to bring all the rescued OFWs from China to New Clark City.

“We acknowledge that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority has full jurisdiction over NCC, but I, as the Mayor of Capas, appeal in behalf of all Capaseños to our dear President Rodrigo Duterte and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque to consider another place or facility as isolation area,” he said.

Catacutan said that they’re not informed about the plan of the government.

“I feel perturbed by the fact that the Department of Health (DOH) did not at all, in any way, involve the Capas LGU in its last-minute decision for New Clark City Capas to be used as a quarantine zone for these Persons under Monitoring,” he stated.

According to DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, they chose the New Clark City as the quarantine area because of its facilities and location.

“We plan to bring back our fellow Filipinos here in the country as seamlessly and efficiently as possible. Procedures were set into place from the moment our OFW kababayans board the plane up until their arrival,” he said.

The OFWs are required to be isolated for 14 days.

The police officer who got spat by a Chinese national caught for trying to escape law enforcers and possessing shabu made a statement regarding the said incident.

In an interview, Police Staff Sergeant Alan Escramosa said that the Chinese who’s still not being named did not only disrespected him, but also the whole organization of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Kawalan po siya ng respeto. Andito po tayo sa bansa natin – nasa Pilipinas po tayo, naka-uniporme po ako sa oras na ‘yun. Gawan niya ‘ko ng eksena ng pandudura, parang hindi naman po ako ‘yung dinuraan niya, ‘yung buong Philippine National Police,” Escramosa said.

The Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) on Thursday said that they first saw the suspect driving his vehicle around Binondo and they tried to stop him there for not following the number coding of the city, however, the Chinese national started to flee the authorities.

The suspect even crashed to several vehicles he approached while escaping the simple violation he committed, and they found out why he’s desperately trying to flee the law enforcers.

When they cornered the Chinese national along Tayuman and Abad Santos, they discovered a sachet of shabu.

Authorities are also having a hard time communicating with him because he’s not speaking English.

The suspect is expected to face multiple charges.

The incident has gone viral on the internet and coincidentally, many Chinese nationals are also being criticized for the 2019 novel coronavirus.

Amid the heightened criticisms being received by President Rodrigo Duterte on social media because of the 2019-novel coronavirus scare, a netizen tried to defend the chief executive and reminded the critics that what they’re doing is not effective anymore.

On a lengthy Facebook post, netizen Noel Landero Sarifa said that the opposition who are also called ‘dilawans’ by some people, already used all possible method to lower the popularity of the President, but always turned out to be a failure.

Sarifa also said that even if he wanted to, he believes that Duterte is not planning to extend his term anymore.

“Oppositions and self-entitled woke, feeling know it all mga dilawan still can’t accept the fact na until now Duterte is still our president and no matter what they do, black propaganda, Bikoy video, all altered media headlines showing him being weak, being late, the bad guy, failed government kuno. You can get all the negativity in the world and pour it over to our president but we will never, see him the way you do or the way you wanted to.” said Sarifa.

“Natatakot kayo sa Dictatorship and Duterte staying in power? I don’t think it will happen, if it does I will rejoice, you know why? He has awakened us to the real state of the nation and he has done a great job for this country that no one has ever done for the longest time,”

The netizen then listed several things that Duterte did to wake up the nation on the real issues of the country:

“Nang dahil kay Duterte nalaman natin na milyon-milyon ang adik sa Pilipinas at hinayaan ng nakaraang administrations na lumubo sa ganito ang population nila. At andami sa kanila ang galit kay Duterte kasi hindi na sila malayang makapagbenta at makagamit,”

“Nang dahil kay Duterte nalaman natin na marami palang pera ang Pilipinas na pwede itugon sa pangangangailangan ng Bansa, free tuition, free irrigation, free hospitalization, free wi-fi at madaming pang libre, na kaya palang baguhin ang taxation at bawasan ang tax na kinakaltas sa sahod natin at kunin ang tax sa ibang paraan tulad ng sigarilyo at alak,”

“Nang dahil kay Duterte nalaman natin na lumalangoy na tayo sa isang tourist spot na direktang tinatapunan ng dumi,”

“Nang dahil kay Duterte nakita natin na kaya naman palang pabilisin ang mga infrastructure project. Simulan at matapos sa takdang panahon at kaya naman palang punduhan,”

“Nang dahil kay Duterte nakita natin kung paano laruin ng mga negosyante ang merkado, Kaya nilang itago ang mga Bigas at sasabihing kulang sa supply at pwede nilang taasan ang presyo, kaya nilang gutumin ang taong bayan. Kaya nilang pababain ang bilihan ng palay at gutumin ang ating magsasaka tapos isisi sa gobyerno,”

“Nang dahil kay Duterte nalaman natin ang kagaguhan ng ginagawa ng sangay ng Gobyerno, at may naayos at inaayos na ito ngayon,”

“Nang dahil kay Duterte nalaman natin na wala naman pala talagang kakulangan sa supply sa tubig, ginigipit lang nila ang supply para makahingi ng dagdag singil, may mga onerous contract pa!”

“Nang dahil kay Duterte nalaman natin na ang ibang Media ay may pinapanigan at nababayaran. Hindi rin sila nagbabayad ng utang sa gobyerno,”

“Nang dahil kay Duterte mas maliwanag ang panlilinlang ng mga Elitista, na pinapaikot lang tayo sa kanilang mga kamay, ginagawa lang tayong gatasan ng pera,”

“Nang dahil kay Duterte nalaman natin na maraming mayayaman ang mas yumayaman kasi hindi sila nagbabayad ng buwis at obligasyon nila sa gobyerno,”

“Nang dahil kay Duterte nalaman natin kung sino ang tunay na sakim sa kapangyarihan, na nagagamit ang pondo ng pamahalaan para sa mga rebelde,”

“NANG DAHIL KAY DUTERTE NAMULAT TAYO SA KATOTOHANAN,”

According to Sarifa, the best contribution of the President is to inform the people about the problems of the country, however some netizens are still insiting that what the chief executive was doing is wrong and kept criticizing him.

He also believed that the majority of the people cannot be affected by the ‘black propagandas’ being thrown against the current administration.

“If kagustuhan nyong mamuhay sa sarili nyong mundo at maniwala sa black propaganda, choice nyo yun, pero kami gising na. Sabi nga nila, truth is relative. If you believe it, it is true for you. If I don’t believe it, it is not true for me. You choose to see the negative side of Duterte and we will respect that, we choose to see the good in him and what changes he is doing for this country and what changes he can bring for this country,”

“Dito kami sa positive, dyan kayo sa negative, but the silent majority is not yours, it is ours. The survey says it, the overflowing support of netizen shows, numbers don’t lie. Kaya sya nanalo kasi mas marami kaming naniwala at mas marami pang maniniwala. Kaya walang nanalo isa man sa otso-diretso kasi gising na ang karamihan sa mga Pilipino,”

Sarifa then urged the people to just support the President until his term ends.

“Did he run for presidency to stay in power? Sino ba ang gahaman sa kapangyarihan? Ang taong gustong gampanan ang tungkulin at itama ang pagkakamali sa paraang alam nya o ang taong gustong pabagsakin ang pangulo dahil gusto nila sila lang ang may karapatang mamuno sa Bansa? Napakasimpleng tanong na alam natin lahat ang sagot pero may mga taong ayaw tanggapin ang katotohanan. He is old and he has done so much, hayaan nating matapos ang termino nya ng maayos at ng may pagkakaisa, para sa bayan,”

The post of Sarifa already reached 1,000 shares on social media.

Sarifa made the said post after several groups called for the ouster of President Duterte who only have two years left in his term.

Source [1]

Defeated senatorial candidate and former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay couldn’t hide his anger anymore towards President Rodrigo Duterte after the latter defended the Chinese people amid the 2019-nCoV scare in the Philippines.

On a tweet, Hilbay made a comment to Duterte’s call to end the Sinophobia or bad treatment against the Chinese in the Philippines.

He called Duterte a ‘puppet’ and asked how he’s going to help the Filipinos amid the possible outbreak in the country.

“Oo ser alam na naming tuta ka, pero ang tanong: P***** I** PAANO MO TUTULUNGAN ANG PILIPINAS AT ANG MGA PILIPINO?” Hilbay said.

One of his followers expressed concern over the temper of Hilbay and asked him to calm down.

“Kalma lang pañero. Ang puso mo,” @atty_don told Hilbay.

“asar e. sige, shot muna ko ng gin,” Hilbay responded.

Hilbay is one of the critics of the Duterte administration and China.

On his past tweet, Hilbay also claimed that China tried to hide the outbreak to the world.

“China didn’t disclose the full extent of the new coronavirus outbreak. It stifled the free flow of information. That is why people, institutions, & organizations weren’t able to react properly. The Philippines should learn from this error. YOU CAN’T STOP AN OUTBREAK W CENSORSHIP,” he said.

China didn't disclose the full extent of the new coronavirus outbreak. It stifled free flow of information. That is why people, institutions, & organizations weren't able to react properly.

The Philippines should learn from this error.

YOU CAN'T STOP AN OUTBREAK W CENSORSHIP.

— Pilo Hilbay (@fthilbay) February 3, 2020

In a press conference in Malacanang Monday, Duterte said that the public should refrain from treating the Chinese badly in the country.

“China has been kind to us. We can only also show the same favor to them. Stop this sinophobia,” Duterte said.

“You know it is not only a case of bad taste but it is not good for us Filipinos to be saying that. Ngayon (Now) they are blaming the Chinese na galing sa (coming from) China. It could always incubate in some other places. It happened in China, at least the first. But that is not the fault of anybody. Not the Chinese, not the Filipino, no one,” he added.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go had already enough with the critics of the Duterte administration and spreader of fake news amid the 2019 novel coronavirus scare in the Philippines.

During the hearing of the Senate on the 2019-nCoV, Go mentioned the ‘bashers’ and trolls’ who are only spreading negative thoughts and false information on social media to destroy the popularity of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Go told the people he mentioned that they’re also should be put in quarantine like the suspected nCoV carriers.

“Yung mga panay dada naman diyan para lang makapagsalita, mga bashers na sumasakay sa sitwasyon para sa pansariling interes, mga taong gusto lang magdulot ng panic, at mga nagpapakalat ng fake news, kayo ang dapat i-quarantine para hindi kayo makahawa,” said Go.

He urged the critics of the government on social media to show themselves and participate in the senate hearing so they could contribute in the fight against nCoV.

“Sa mga trolls at bashers naman, welcome kayo pumunta dito sa public hearing, sumali kayo. Pakiusap ko po, tumulong na lang tayo. Unahin natin ang kapakanan, kalusugan at interes ng bawat Pilipino,” he said.

The Senator from Davao City insisted that the government is doing its best to prevent the spread of the virus.

Go also urged the people not to blame the Chinese for the nCoV scare and instead, help each other.

“We empathize with China given what they are going through but we are putting these precautionary measures in place to protect the country and its people… As part of a community, the Philippine government should be committed to assist other affected countries to address this worldwide health concern,” he said.

The current administration faced its biggest challenge this year as the Department of Health (DOH) already confirmed two cases of nCoV in the country.

Criticisms against the government heightened, and even politicians like Senator Francis Pangilinan couldn’t hide their disappointment with the current administration.

“Kung sa tingin ng gobyerno na ligtas ang ating mga kababayan at hindi kailangan ng travel ban sa mga galing ng China dapat mula airport derecho silang lahat sa Malakanyan,” Pangilinan said, who’s also the President of Liberal Party.

Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque criticized the ‘yellows’ for trying to politicize the 2019 novel coronavirus by pushing President Rodrigo Duterte to be the first country to ban travelers from mainland China.

On Roque’s Facebook post, he claimed that only Filipinos seem to talk about politics in the middle of 2019-nCoV and don’t want to accept the decision of the government to wait for the World Health Organization’s (WHO) announcement before making such travel bans.

“Only in the Philippines will you see enemies of the administration politicizing even a public health crisis such as the novel coronavirus (nCoV). Sure, countries may have beaten us in banning all flights from Mainland China by a day or two. But as soon as the WHO (World Health Organization) declared the nCoV as an international public health emergency, the President followed suit and banned all flights originating from China, Macau and Hong Kong,” said Roque.

“The yellows, as usual, claimed it was our subservience to China that led to the belated banning. Rubbish. It was the science that led to the President’s decision. Without the WHO declaration, an earlier total ban on any contact with China would have been driven by hysteria or, worse, xenophobia,” he added.

“By banning flights from China after the WHO declaration, we only responded in the same manner as almost all countries in the world did. Yes, I’m sure our newfound friendship did count in PRRD’s decision. What is wrong with that? After all, as Filipinos, we know the true value of friendship.” he also said.

The lawyer then reminded the Filipino people that not only China is the country that brought a virus in the country.

Roque mentioned that the government didn’t ban the Americans to visit the Philippines during the H1N1 outbreak.

He insisted that the decision of the government to issue travel bans should be “based on science and not panic and hysteria”.

A few days ago, netizens criticized the current administration for not immediately issuing a travel ban on China.

Some Chinese who are already in the Philippines also reportedly received bad treatment from some Filipinos they encountered as they seen as a possible carrier of nCoV.