Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin couldn’t hide his anger after hearing the news that some hospitals are allegedly charging their patients for the use of Personal Protection Equipments (PPEs).

On Sunday, Locsin Jr slammed the hospitals for allegedly asking their patients to pay for the PPEs that they received from the donations of the government and private sector.

“I heard that hospitals are charging patients for the PPEs donated to them. P*t*ngina niyo,” Locsin tweeted.

Locsin’s followers shared their thoughts on the news shared by the foreign affairs secretary.

Dr. Teddy Herbosa said that it’s fine if the private hospitals charged their costumers for the PPEs if they bought it using their own money.

“I have been trying to think hard how to prevent this. The private hospitals buy PPEs. If they bought it I have no problem Charging those. But if they get donations from the private sector or the government, how should we monitor that those are not abused and charged? Suggestions?” Herbosa said.

Netizen @TitaMaldita_ also heard the same news from one of her viber groups, saying that some hospitals are selling PPEs for 3,000 pesos per set.

“I read that too in one of my Viber resident groups. Been trying to find it but too many msgs. OP said she was charged 3K/PPE set. Nurse checks in on her 8x/day and changes PPE each time. So 24K/day. Face screaming in fear Disclaimer: just read that, not verified, but pls investigate,” she commented.

Netizen @ianklsdmbldr expressed sadness after reading the post of Locsin, saying that some hospitals may be taking advantage of the situation.

“Some hospitals will really take advantage of the fact Philhealth will pay them mostly in full, some will pad up charges so they can earn more. Greed even during a pandemic and their work is romanticized,” he remarked.

Some of them are also urging the government to investigate the hospitals allegedly selling donated PPEs.

Donation of PPEs poured after medical professionals succumbing from COVID-19 rises in the country.

One company, San Miguel Corporation even donated P500-M worth of PPEs to different hospitals in the country.

The Mayor of Sadanga, a 5th class municipality in Mountain Province made an unusual move amid the COVID-19 crisis in the country.

Mayor Gabino Ganggangan of Sadanga announced that he refused to accept the relief goods came from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), saying that his people could sustain themselves without the food aid from the government.

“Today I was informed by our MSWDO that some relief food packs sent by the DSWD region are now available at the PDRRM office in Bontoc for LGU’s that might be requesting,” Ganggangan said on his Facebook post.

“However, I decided and instructed our MSWDO to relay our message that our municipality will not be availing of these food packs even if the lockdown will be extended,” he added.

Ganggangan believes that the community of Sadanga was prepared for economic hardships such as ‘food shortages’ as they have a culture that the richer people of their villages are expected to help the needy relatives or neighbors.

He also said that even in worst-case scenarios, their community has a plan to survive the the crisis.

“Its not that we don’t have poor and needy families but i believe that we as tribal communities still have and should sustain our “built in” and homegrown or indigenous social structure,values,and practice of taking care of our respective relatives or kins, neighbors ,or kailyan in distress during hard times or economic crisis,” he said.

“It is during these kinds of economic hardships such as “food shortages”, hunger and famine that the “richer or better of” ( kadangyans) among a clan or village are expected to aid their needy relatives by lending their surpluses,” he added.

“Should this crisis extend longer to the extent that our needy families really run out of their rice supplies, we shall mandate the kadangyans of every barangay to open up their rice granaries ( agamangs) to sustain us through to the next harvest season. I assure that no family shall go hungry in our municipality even during these hardtimes,” he also said.

The Mayor said that instead of sending their food packs to Sadanga, he told the government to prioritize the people living in the cities who don’t have the capacity to sustain themselves.

“Let the Nat’l Gov”t feed those more needy urban poor in the cities and those less fortunate in other areas who can’t sustain themselves, while we sustain ourselves while we can,” he said.

Ganggangan’s post has gone viral on social media and received 2,500 shares as of writing.

The woke’s new favorite company, Ligo Brand Philippines donated 20,000 of their canned sardines to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) as part of their contribution to the COVID-19 relief efforts.

On Friday, Vice President Leni Robredo thanked Ligo for donating the said canned goods to their office.

“Taos-pusong pasasalamat po sa ating mga kaibigan sa Ligo Sardines (Philippines), na nagpadala sa ating Tanggapan ng 20,000 cans ng kanilang produkto ngayong araw!” Robredo said.

“Sa ating pagtutulungan, mas marami sa ating mga kababayang nangangailangan ang ating maaabot. Maraming salamat po sa bukas-palad ninyong pakikiisa sa gitna ng panahong ito,” she added.

It can be remembered that one of the owners of Ligo company, Mikko Lawrence Tung urged people from the private sector not to donate anything to the government.

“Ligo Sardines will be making its donations directly to the hospitals, and different NGOs leading the fight against COVID-19. Let us learn from our mistakes,” Tung said on his Facebook post weeks ago.

“I urged all my friends from the private sectors to do the same. Do not give it to these (clown emoji) We will do a lot more good on our own, than trusting our donations with the government. This is theft before our very eyes,” he added.

Sorry Mr. Tung but its a very big mistake that you probably pay with your net worth. We can run PR to make @LigoSardinesPH the lowest sales in VISMIN area where there's a lot of #Duterte supporters? The Filipino majority has NO love now for Ligo! #BoycottLIGO #LiberalHypocrisy pic.twitter.com/nGA4cy80mN

— Simoun Rebolusyonaryo (@SimounIsMe) April 4, 2020

After receiving criticisms, Tung clarified that his Facebook post does not reflect Ligo’s stand.

Ligo Sardines also released an official statement to express their support to the government efforts to fight COVID-19.

It seems that the company also didn’t follow what Tung wanted as they donated their sardines to the OVP, which is also part of the government.

Coincidentally, website Bilyonaryo started to publish articles about the issues faced by Ligo Brand including its several violations with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

According to one of Bilyonaryo’s article, Ligo was forced to close down one of their factories after being caught discharging dirty waste-water in a creek from their sardines factory in Valenzuela City.

Defeated senatorial candidate and former Solicitor General Florin ‘Pilo’ Hilbay urged his followers to stop watching President Rodrigo Duterte’s televised address, calling it ‘useless.’

Hilbay was known for watching every televised address of Duterte to analyze the actions of the President.

The critic of the President even praised the latter last month and called his speech ‘impressive’.

However, on April 16, Hilbay announced that he would stop watching the presscons of the chief executive because he believed that Duterte is only wasting the time of the people.

The former Otso Diretso bet said that people should spend their nights with their family instead of watching the President prevent him from spreading ‘propaganda.’

“Stopped watching the President’s useless press cons after the 2nd time he wasted the nation’s attention. We’re better off w summaries by credible media outlets. Don’t help him feed his ego & distribute propaganda. Spend time w yourself or family instead,” Hilbay said.

Hilbay ended his tweet with the hashtag ‘DontWatchThePresident.’

He also made another tweet about the said televised address.

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” (A president seeking to inspire fellow citizens to join the cause of freedom and progress). “Ano ambag mo?” (An angry president lashing out at citizens asking for accountability and leadership).” he tweeted.

"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

(A president seeking to inspire fellow citizens to join the cause of freedom and progress).

"Ano ambag mo?"

(An angry president lashing out at citizens asking for accountability and leadership).

— Pilo Hilbay (@fthilbay) April 17, 2020

Two days ago, Duterte slammed his critics and asked them about their contribution to the country.

Duterte also said that he would name his critics when the next election period.

“Nakikita mo naman kung sino-sino sila. Ano ang nagawa? Ito lang tanong ko: Dumaan na man kayo, ano ang nagawa ninyo para sa bayan? Iyan lang. Kapag sinabi ninyo ako wala, okay wala. Eh kayo? What have you done for the country except to talk and criticize and talk? Pilipino naman nakikinig ka diyan sa mga… Nagbabasa ka diyan sa mga Facebook-Facebook.” Duterte said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III had already enough with people posting their charitable works on the internet.

Sotto, on a tweet, said that people who are doing philanthropic activities should continue what they’re doing; however, posting it on social media might only give a wrong impression to some people.

According to him, sharing their good deeds on the internet was meant to feed their egos.

“If you want to feed the hungry, then feed the hungry. But the moment you post it on social media, you are only feeding your ego!” Sotto said.

My John Wooden amended version – if you want to feed the hungry, then feed the hungry. But the moment you post it on social media, you are only feeding your ego!

— Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) April 17, 2020

Some of his followers gave their comments on the tweet of the Senate President.

“It depends on one’s motives. After all, we are in the Information Age. Information is the new currency. Some use it for accountability, others as an invitation or summons to do better,” netizen @thelastround said.

It depends on one’s motives. After all, we are in the Information Age.. Information is the new currency.. Some use it for accountability, others as an invitation or summons to do better

— Jingo Quijano (@thelastround) April 17, 2020

One netizen even challenged Sotto to name the people he criticized.

“Kung may b*yag ka pangalanan mo! Gawain mo rin yan pag eleksyon, suhol mo ALDUB kapalit ng boto! IMPOKRITO KA!” @IngridMedrano told Sotto.

Sotto, in the past, said that he believes that helping people should be done without publicity.

“Ang pagtulong sa kapwa na walang hinihintay na kapalit o papuri ay tunay na dakila,” Sotto said in his most recent statement.

“Para naman dun sa ilang kababayan natin na nagyayabang at mahilig maghamon sa mga Senador at pulitiko na lumabas at tumulong sa kapwa, sana ay mahismasmasan kayo at magkaroon ng tamang katinuhan,” he added.

Amid the enhanced community quarantine, people like Francis Leo Marcos captured the attention of the internet because of his charitable works.

Marcos became popular because of his challenges to politicians and rich people to go out and match the goods he donated to the public.

However, several critics of Marcos accused the businessman of just using his philanthropic activities in publicity.

Angel Locsin, Gab Valenciano, and other celebrities also sharing their contribution to social media.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has a message to President Rodrigo Duterte after the latter addressed his critics on his televised address on Thursday.

In a tweet, Trillanes questioned why Duterte is asking his critics about their contributions to the country, while the government already received a 4-T budget this year.

He even said that he may pat the President on his neck.

“Four Trillion ang budget mo, tapos hahanapan mo ako ng ambag? Batukan kaya kita,” Trillanes tweeted.

Four Trillion ang budget mo, tapos hahanapan mo ako ng ambag? Batukan kaya kita.

— Sonny Trillanes IV (@TrillanesSonny) April 16, 2020

Aside from his tweet, Trillanes also posted a video compilation of President Duterte’s controversial statements.

Trillanes was responding to President Duterte’s statement against his critics.

Duterte likened his critics to ‘snakes’ who are only waiting for an opportunity to talk against the government.

“Ito lang tanong ko: Dumaan na man kayo, ano ang nagawa ninyo para sa bayan? Iyan lang. Kapag sinabi ninyo ako wala, okay wala. Eh kayo? What have you done for the country except to talk and criticize and talk?” Duterte said.

Trillanes is a known critic of President Duterte and facing several charges because of his alleged involvement in some ouster plots against the chief executive.

A concerned citizen removed a tarpaulin against President Rodrigo Duterte installed at Katipunan overpass, saying that calls for the removal of the chief executive would not solve the current problems of the country.

In a Facebook post, netizen Gab Sab narrated that he was driving along Katipunan Avenue when he saw the tarp saying “Oust Duterte” at the overpass.

He decided to stop his car to remove the said tarpaulin and dumped it to the nearest garbage bin because he believes that calling for the ouster of the President was non-sense.

“Tinanggal ko at tinapon ko sa basurahan yung walang kakwenta kwentang bagay at walang magandang hatid sa lahat ng makakakita. Di ko lang maintindihan kung san nanggagaling yung nagsulat at naglagay nun at nageffort pa na lumabas at suwayin ang utos ng gobyerno para lang gawin yun,” Sab said.

“Di ba nya naisip na di solusyon ang pagpapatalsik sa Presidente natin sa kinakaharap natin na problema ngayon? Kasi ang pagkakaalam ko PAGKAKAISA yung kailangan natin ngayon at TULUNGAN at hindi pagsisisihan o siraan!” he added.

According to him, the critics of the President should stop their campaign for now as the country was facing a crisis due to COVID-19.

“Puro reklamo at puro paninisi nalang sa Gobyerno imbis gumawa ng tama! Kung may pagkukulang man sila naniniwala ako na di ito yung tamang panahon para isumbat yun sa kanila. Dahil walang nakakaalam at nakapaghanda sa problemang to kahit yung malalakaing bansa,” he said.

“Kung di natin kayang irespeto si DU30 bilang Presidente, Irespeto nalang sana natin sya bilang nakakatanda na kailangan igalang gaya ng mga nakakatanda nating kamaganak!” he added.

The video already reached 151,000 views as of writing and 24,000 reactions on social media.

Two weeks ago, several critics of the government called for the ouster of President Rodrigo Duterte because of their dissatisfaction in the performance of the chief executive on fighting COVID-19.