A man wrote an open letter to the netizen, convincing them to pray for President Rodrigo Duterte amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

On a Facebook post, George Montiadora said that President Duterte was experiencing more stress than anyone because of the current problems facing by the country.

He pointed out that some people are trying to criticize the President for his small mistakes instead of highlighting the good things he did.

Montiodora believes that Duterte is not going to do something bad to the country because he’s old already.

“Please include our President in your prayers for our country guys. He is more stressed than anyone of us. Imagine kung paano siya sinisisi ng marami either di maganda o mabuti ung nangyayari. Sa isang puting pader na natuldukan ng itim na tinta, karamihan sa mga Pilipino doon na nakatingin,” Montiadora said.

“Guys, this man will never ever do anything na makakasama sa kahit na sino sa atin. Matanda na siya, mahina, pagod, may mga nararamdaman,” he added.

The netizen also told the social media users that they should admit that they’re feel safer in the current administration because of the policies implemented by Duterte.

“Kaliwa’t kanang pangbabatikos, pero aminin nyo, malaking relief sa atin nung siya ang naging presidente. Di ka matatakot maglakad sa kalye sa gabi kasi alam mo na may “Yari ako kay Tatay Digong” na nakatatak kahit papaano sa utak ng mga masasamang loob sa paligid,” he said.

“He chose to fight and serve for his beloved fellowmen. He never complained. He never turned his back even to those people na supposed to be partner nya sana pero walang ginawa. Yun na mismo ung punch line “WALANG GINAWA”. (di ko sinasabing vice president to ah).” he added.

Before he ended his post, Montiodora asked the netizens to cooperate with the President instead of complaining.

“You will see him get tired but you will never see him giving up. His intentions are beyond best. Inaayos nya yung bansang buong buhay nyang nakitang walang pagbabago. Sana makipag cooperate tayo. Kung di nyo kayang tumulong, wag na kayong magreklamo!!!  Laban nating lahat to. Kapit-bisig tayo Salamat Tay, kasama mo kami dito,” he said.

The post already reached 86,000 shares on social media and 107,000 reactions.

Montiadora made the said post amid the criticisms being received by Duterte to some netizens who complained about how the President delivered his televised address.

Yesterday, Duterte announced that they’re going to put Metro Manila in a community quarantine to prevent the virus from spreading.

“‘Pag hindi kayo nag-cooperate, ah the problem would start and it would start with you and end with you pagka ganun. So ‘yung mga sinasabi na social distancing, sundin lang po ninyo. At ‘yung mga ibinibigay na well ahead ng Department of Health, sundin ho ninyo kung anong sinasabi ng mga doktor kasi sila po ang marunong niyan,” President Duterte said.

A member of Anakbayan Vito Cruz criticized the move of President Rodrigo Duterte to order a community quarantine in Metro Manila, suspecting that the government is only trying to impose martial law in the National Capital Region.

On Thursday, James Carwyn Candila tweeted that Duterte is using the COVID-19 issue “to establish martial law in Metro Manila”.

“HE WILL MOBILIZE THE AFP AND PNP TO ROVE AROUND OUR STREETS. IF THE YOUTH IS CAUGHT, THEY WILL BE BROUGHT TO POLICE STATION FOR QUESTIONING,” Candila said.

TODAY, DUTERTE IS USING THE COVID-19 CRISIS TO ESTABLISH A MARTIAL LAW IN METRO MANILA.

HE WILL MOBILIZE THE AFP AND PNP TO ROVE AROUND OUR STREETS. IF THE YOUTH IS CAUGHT, THEY WILL BE BROUGHT TO POLICE STATION FOR QUESTIONING.

— jcrwyn #JunkTerrorBill (@JCRWYN) March 12, 2020

This is also what Raoul Manuel said, asking the President to step down and just let the Filipinos handle the situation.

“Duterte is really incapable to handle these situations. He is practically useless. He must step down and let the Filipino people manage the crisis,” Manuel remarked.

However, some defenders of President Duterte and martial law slammed the two activists for criticizing the latest actions of the government.

“You talk as if you can handle it better. It’s the same case when Martial law was implemented in Mindanao. You talk and rallied as if you were there and experienced it. But did you know, it was the safest period we had in Zamboanga because AFP and PNP are everywhere,” netizen @demz_siton told Manuel.

“Sige ikaw mag manage ng sitwasyon Magaling ka diba? Sige nga ano gagawin mo? Explain mo dito ano plano mo para macontain ang virus. What is the best option to prevent the virus from spreading? BAKA ISAGOT MO LANG DITO EH PROPER HYGEINE,” another netizen said.

Netizen @yobubsercas also questioned the logic of the critics of Duterte, saying that some of them asked for lockdown and now that the government announced that they’re going to do it, they’re accusing the President of establishing martial law.

“Nanghihingi kayo ng lock down tapos kapag ni-lock down, sasabihin martial law,” @yobusercas told Candila.

However, Candila denied that they’re asking for lockdown and suggested that the government should promote accessible health care instead of just spreading the cops and soldiers around Metro Manila.

During the televised address, Duterte warned the youth not to disobey the community quarantine measures and be cooperative with the police officers.

“Pag makita ka sa labas, pasakay sa — palaboy-laboy ka lang diyan, wala kang ginagawa, sisigaw-sigaw kayo, lalapitan kayo ng pulis pati military. Tatanungin kayo, then you have a problem. ‘Pag sinabi mo na, “wala nandito lang kami sa labas.” And then maybe if you are arrogant, dadalhin ka istasyon for record purposes, that you are disobeying, that you are intransigent and that you are not fulfilling your duty.” the President said.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP) they’re going to deploy 40,000 cops to ensure peace and order during the period of community quarantine.

“The president required us to convince students to stay at home. (But of course,) in as much as we can do, we cannot restrain (them),” PNP Chief Police General Archie Gamboa explained.

President Rodrigo Duterte decided to stay in Manila to supervise the government actions against the COVID-19.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Duterte rejected the request of his partner Honeylet Avanceña to go home to Davao City before the community quarantine of the National Capital Region (NCR) on March 15 started.

Panelo said that Duterte decided to stay in Malacañang to participate in daily cabinet meetings to assess the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Yes, he announced it last night that his wife wanted him to fly back (to Davao) but he said ‘no, the face of the country is Manila and the President had to be here so I’ll be here,'” Panelo told ANC in an interview.

The President, according to Panelo is already expecting a “spike” in cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines, that’s why they decided to implement strict rules to prevent the virus from spreading.

Panelo said that the COVID-19 is a serious issue that’s why he’s asking the people to cooperate with the government.

“All we have to do really si observe protocols, personal hygiene, keep washing your hands… distance yourself from the person near you. That’s a very simple task to do.” said Panelo.

On Thursday, President Duterte announced that he’s going to put Metro Manila under ‘community quarantine’ from March 15, to April 14.

12.8-M people of Metro Manila could be affected by the said quarantine.

Even broadcaster Karen Davila who seems confused about the resolution asked if President Duterte is also not allowed to leave Manila once the community quarantine started.

“The President means well. My question is by imposing a domestic travel lockdown in Metro Manila for 1 month, it means he also can’t go back to Davao?” Davila asked.

The President means well. My question is by imposing a domestic travel lockdown in Metro Manila for 1 month, it means he also can’t go back to Davao? #Covid19

— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) March 12, 2020

However, Cabinet Secretary Carlo Nograles clarified that people residing outside Metro Manila are still allowed to enter and leave NCR every day as long as they’re going to prove that they’re really working there.

Nograles also said that certain government officials are exempted from the domestic travel ban.

A netizen has a message to the people who are still criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte after his televised address on Thursday.

Netizen Andrea David, on a Facebook post, slammed the critics of Duterte, saying that she saw how the President is working and trying to communicate with the public despite being not fluent in Tagalog.

According to her, she understood what the President wanted to deliver.

Some critics of the President complained that they didn’t understand what the President is saying during the address.

“Watched Pres. Duterte’s press con while on shift. And yes, I had the same thoughts that he is not a good speaker. But the message he wanted to send is clear,” David said.

“Our President is doing whatever he can. Trying to be as careful with his words. He doesn’t even want to use the word ‘lockdown’ but technically it already is. He doesn’t want to cause a ruckus and make everyone panic as most of the people already are but he wants us to be cautious. Cautious of our own health,” she added.

She was saddened to see negative comments about the President’s televised address, asking them why they’re only focusing on throwing criticisms against Duterte.

David argued that the way Duterte speaks is normal for a 74-year-old man.

“It’s sad that I still see posts commenting about how bad he delivers the message. That he’s just blabbering. Totoo ba? Sa dami ng sinabi ng presidente, dun ka nag focus? And the President who just delivered the message is 74 years old. I assume your grandparents do the same,” she said.

“Wala nang ginawang tama ang Presidente para sa inyo. You always point out things that are irrelevant para lang mas ma highlight yung negative. Why don’t we just support him?” she added.

Some netizens who saw the post also expressed the same thoughts with David.

“YES. Tama na muna mga utak talangka. Let’s support each other, lalo na yung inaasahan natin gumawa ng hakbang para maisaayos tayo. Sinong natutulungan ng mga negative comments nyo?” Karly Diaz said.

“Hindi nyo talaga maiintindihan yung ayaw nyong intindihin,” Maykel Lleva commented.

“I really do appreciate him a lot ! hindi naman ibig sabihin na nagmumura ang tao masama na. <3 Our nation is so blessed to have a man like him. Besides, wala naman pakealam si Pres. Duterte sa bashers ang pake niya ay para sa mga kapwa niya pilipino. <3 I pray na mas maging healthy at strong siya lalo na sa sitwasyon naten ngayon, God bless Mr. President!” Maine Rodrigueza remarked.

The post already received 25,000 shares as of writing and gained thousands of positive reactions from the netizens.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III questioned the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to impose a lockdown in Metro Manila amid the COVID-19 local transmission in the country.

On a statement, Sotto said that the lockdown of the National Capital Region (NCR) is going to affect the economy badly.

“NCR is the political and economic capital of the Philippines. The economy will grind to a halt as the flow of goods and people from the provinces to NCR, and vice versa, will be affected,” Sotto said in a statement.

“Preventing travel to and from Metro Manila with only 52 cases as this point is a textbook case of overreaction. This drastic measure will only result in panic and hoarding of goods,” he added.

According to him, inflation is also possible and it will affect the poor people living in NCR.

“The poor and the vulnerable sectors will be heavily-disadvantaged under this scenario, as they don’t have the resources to cope with any shortage of food and other necessities,” he said.

The Senate President then suggested that it’s better to do mass testing of people in Metro Manila instead do a strict containment than closing down Metro Manila.

“The solution lies in more testing of the population and strict containment of heavily-affected areas… The time is not ripe for placing entire communities, cities, and provinces under lockdown. Lockdown should be the last resort,” he said.

Sotto ordered a lockdown in Senate yesterday after a resource person tested positive for COVID-19.

According to some Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año the government is not going to impose a ‘total lockdown’.

He clarified that food and supplies are still allowed to enter NCR and people living outside the province can still travel inside and outside of Metro Manila.

“Lilinawin ko lang kasama dito sa kautusan na papayagan yung mga nagta-trabaho na pumasok at provided lang na mayroon silang I.D, mayroon silang pagpapatunay na ang work nila ay dito sa Manila,” he said.

Año explained that they’re doing a partial lockdown because they’re trying to avoid the same situation happened in Italy.

“Ayaw na nating umabot sa ganoong situation na parang nangyari sa Italy, so sabi nila it’s a bitter pill to swallow,” he said.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año clarified that people residing in other provinces who are working or doing business in Metro Manila are going to be allowed to travel inside and outside the National Capital Region.

In an interview with DZMM, Año clarified that the order being imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte is not a “total lockdown”.

“We are just trying to restrict movements going in and going out of Metro Manila, kasi ayaw na namin na mag spread itong virus,” Año said.

According to the Secretary, the strategy of the government is to set checkpoints in the boundaries of Metro Manila.

He announced that workers living in different provinces are still allowed to work in the nation’s capital.

Año said that the workers are still allowed to present their IDs to the authorities to prove that they’re really working in Metro Manila.

“Lilinawin ko lang kasama dito sa kautusan na papayagan yung mga nagta-trabaho na pumasok at provided lang na mayroon silang I.D, mayroon silang pagpapatunay na ang work nila ay dito sa Manila,” he said.

He explained that they allow the workers to still go inside and outside of Manila because the government is also considering their daily needs.

However, if it’s possible, Año said that workers should do work-from-home to avoid being exposed to the crowded environment.

To avoid defeating the purpose of the lockdown, the Department of Transporation (DOTr) will impose measures to enhance social distancing inside the buses and other public transportations.

They’re also allowed provincial buses to go inside and outside Metro Manila as long as the passengers of the said vehicle are working in NCR.

However, people who are going to travel to Metro Manila via domestic flights are still restricted even if they have work or business in the nation’s capital.

Año also shared information from the World Health Organization that if the government is not going to do enough actions against COVID-19, there are an estimated 75,000 Filipinos that are possible to be affected by the virus.

“Ayaw na nating umabot sa ganoong situation na parang nangyari sa Italy, so sabi nila it’s a bitter pill to swallow,” he said.

On Thursday, President Duterte ordered the partial lockdown of Metro Manila.

“Land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila shall be suspended after beginning March 15, 2020, and to end on April 14, 2020, alas dose subject to the daily review of the Inter-Agency Task Force,” President Rodrigo Duterte said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a travel ban to and from Metro Manila starting from March 15 to April 14 as part of the government’s action to control the spread of COVID-19.

Duterte announced the order during a televised address on Thursday night.

“Land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila shall be suspended after beginning March 15, 2020, and to end on April 14, 2020, alas dose subject to the daily review of the Inter-Agency Task Force,” President Rodrigo Duterte said.

The President said that the magnitude of the problem being faced by the country is “very, very clear”.

Despite his order, the President also urged the people not to think too much on how the restrictions are going to change their lifestyle.

“Government is doing everything to make it at least controllable,” he said.

He also ordered the people to avoid the crowd, and he also prohibited mass gathering.

“Ayaw kong masita kayo ng pulis at military,” the President said.

While the President doesn’t his order, the President explained that the order is necessary.

“Ayaw naming gamitin yan. But there is a lockdown. It’s a matter of defending you from COVID-19,” the President said.

Duterte then ordered the Barangay Captains as the person of authority during the travel ban, saying that disobeying them would be equivalent to defying the cops.

He warned the Barangay Captains to do their job or else they’re going to face charges.

“I do not have enough policemen and soldiers to cover every inch of the country. Ang meron ako, barangay captains. They are bound by the rules written here,” he said.

The President also clarified that the travel restrictions to, from Metro Manila is not martial law.

“Hindi ito martial law. It’s not even something extraordinary. Walang iba except to fight the virus and to exact compliance. Mas mabuting maniwala kayo,” he said.

“Wag kayong matakot sa sundalo. Sundalo ninyo ‘yan. Ang AFP is there to serve you. ‘Wag kayong matakot,” he added.

There are around 12.8 million people living in Metro Manila that could be affected by the travel ban, the people from other provinces traveling to the National Capital Region to work is not yet included.

President Rodrigo Duterte urged the public to follow the advice of the medical expert amid the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

During a conference Thursday, Duterte said that people should believe the experts amid the challenges being faced by the Philippines on how they’re going to slow down the virus from spreading because they’re more knowledgable on how to handle it.

“So yung mga sinasabi na social distancing, sundin lang po ninyo. At yung mga binibigay ng DOH, sundin ho ninyo kung ano ang sinasabi ng mga doctor. Sila po ang marunong diyan. Ang military, ako, lahat na hindi doctor, at walang alam, wala kaming matutulong sa inyo,” said Duterte.

Duterte then mentioned Health Secretary Francisco Duque III telling that he’s in charge of handling the COVID-19.

He said that the Filipinos should cooperate with the government or else they’re going to contribute to the problem.

“Kung ayaw niyo mag, the problem will start with you and end with you,” Duterte said.

The President also said that he’s going to close down Metro Manila from Land, air, sea travel TO, FROM Metro Manila.

The communication manager of the Department of Health’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (DOH-RITM) is being criticized on social media after she downplayed the role of President Rodrigo Duterte on the fight against COVID-19.

On a Facebook post, Geli Blanco of RITM tried to calm down her friends who had watched the Malacanang press conference on Monday by saying that the President doesn’t know what he’s saying.

According to her, President Duterte is not the only one should rely on the fight against the virus.

“To my friends who’ve watched the Malacañan interagency meeting stream last night: Please, do not lose hope. He’s just the President.”

“He may not know what he’s saying but our doctors, healthcare workers, scientists, medical technicians, researchers—hell, even Sec Duque, Dr. Carlos, DOH/RITM execs, public and private hospitals are all working together,”

She ensured the netizens that all health workers are doing their best to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.

“I know for a fact that all hands are on deck, and none of them had been sleeping on the job. I know for a fact that interventions are underway, I know for a fact that supplies are coming, I know for a fact that we can see this through.”

“Please, keep the faith. He’s just the President; there are a lot more of us who knows things for a fact.”

The post of Blanco reached some known supporter of President Duterte and they accused the communication manager of trying to sabotage the government.

On a Facebook post, Blogger Krizette Laureta Chu gives a theory why that the government may be really hiding the real statistics of the virus because the head of the communication office of DOH RITM is an “anti-Duterte”

“SO THERE GOES YOUR THEORY THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS HIDING POSITIVE CASES FROM YOU.” Chu said.

“If the head of the communications team of RITM is anti Duterte, why would she lie to make this government look good?” she added.

Radio host Mark Lopez also urged the government to fire Blanco.

“At the risk of looking and sounding petty, I am going to go out on a limb and call out the Department of Health (Philippines) and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to please FIRE or CANCEL the consultancy or employment contract of your Communications & Engagement Manager, Angeli Jane “Geli” Blanco,” Lopez said.

“Not for anything else, but at this critical point, it really does not inspire confidence and trust when someone who is vehemently anti-Duterte is in charge of Comms of a crucial health agency,” he added.

He explained that it’s not very helpful that the people working in the government like Blanco doesn’t even trust the current administration.

“I am sure Ms Blanco is competent in her craft, but when she is so vocal and so expressive of her hate and distrust against the administration, and her clear choice of politics, I am afraid that this will not be helpful at all. We have enough problems as it is… Tapos may ganito pa na anay sa nakapasok sa mismong gobyerno.”

Blanco is not yet giving a statement on the criticisms being threw against her.