Fans of Vico Sotto criticized former Vice President Noli De Castro for allegedly throwing shade to the Mayor.

In an episode of TV Patrol on March 18, De Castro made a side comment to Vico Sotto’s appeal to the government, asking them to allow the tricycles to operate in Pasig City.

“Kami po sinusubukan namin ang lahat…pero kulang pa rin po talaga sa ngayon. Nakikiusap po ako sa ating nasyonal na pamahalaan, baka naman po pwedeng bigyan ng konsiderasyon ‘yung mga tricycle,” Sotto said.

However, De Castro seems unimpressed by the Mayor’s appeal.

“Baka hindi niya alam na bawal ang public transpo.” De Castro said.

The former Vice President then said that the national government already reminded the LGUs not to allow tricycles to operate because it might result in a domino effect.

“Hindi daw dapat payagan ang mga tricycle kasi pag pinayagan ng Pasig, lahat na ng tricycle sa Metro Manila ay magrereklamo na Pasig lamang, so wala bang binibigay na serbisyo behikulo sa siyudad ng Pasig si Mayor,” he said.

The netizens didn’t like the comment of De Castro and started to criticize the veteran journalist on social media.

“Dear Noli de Castro, STOP PAINTING Vico Sotto in a bad light just because he’s asking permission to have tricycles operate in Pasig. May I remind you that you were involved in a corruption scandal with HLURB during your term as VP,” @jordans_magic said.

Dear Noli de Castro, STOP PAINTING Vico Sotto in a bad light just because he's asking permission to have tricycles operate in Pasig. May I remind you that you were involved in a corruption scandal with HLURB during your term as VP.

— ?ジョルダン⁷ RESPECT? ??? (@jordans_magic) March 18, 2020

“NOLI DE CASTRO looks very irritated at the report of JEFF CANOY about the vigor and dynamic measures and humane leadership of Mayor Vico Sotto. Its because that is something he was not. Being VP during Arroyo’s term, he showed no LEADERSHIP, NO DYNAMISM, NO HUMANITY,” @westzian remarked.

NOLI DE CASTRO looks very irritated at the report of JEFF CANOY about the vigor and dynamic measures and humane leadership of Mayor Vico Sotto.

Its because that is something he was not. Being VP during Arroyo's term, he showed no LEADERSHIP, NO DYNAMISM, NO HUMANITY.

— ??Pusong Filipino?? (@WestZian) March 18, 2020

“Noli de Castro‘s analysis is too simplistic: “National government says bawal, therefore that’s right.” Vico Sotto is on the ground in Pasig. He knows what people need. Kabayan has wrong priorities. It’s not just about the letter of the rules. It’s about saving people!” netizen @romesdiary stated.

Noli de Castro's analysis is too simplistic: "National government says bawal, therefore that's right." Vico Sotto is on the ground in Pasig. He knows what people need.

Kabayan has wrong priorities. It's not just about the letter of the rules. It's about saving people!

— Kip Oebanda (@kipoebanda) March 18, 2020

The Department of Interior and Local Government told Vico Sotto that his request was denied.

“We respect the opinion of mayor Vico Sotto in Pasig ngunit pasensya na po mayor hindi po talaga namin kayo pwedeng pagbigyan,” DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Thursday in a press briefing.

“Kasi po if we allow mass transportation in Pasig…magrerequest na po ang lahat. Pag ginawa po natin yan, we give an exemption, it will defeat the entire purpose of the quarantine,” he added.

The daughter of Liberal Party President and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan took a swipe to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to deploy the military around Luzon amid the community lockdown due to COVID-19.

Singer-composer Frankie Pangilinan used Disney’s Rapunzel movie “Tangled” to criticize the Duterte administration’s alleged militarization of Luzon.

She cited the song “When Will My Life Begin”, and changed some of the lyrics to fit her message against the Duterte administration.

In the lyrics, she asked the condition of the nurses and also questioned why the government believes that the military was “necessary” to the fight against COVID-19.

Pangilinan even sarcastically asked if the weapon being used by the military could clear the virus.

“So I’ll read a book or maybe two or three ?
I’ll add a few new paintings to my gallery ?
I’ll play guitar ?
and knit ?
and cook ??
and basically ??‍♀️
just wondering
how are our health workers?
why is the military force necessary?
are guns supposed to kll the virus?
ANUBA TALAGA,”

When President Duterte declared the community quarantine in Metro Manila on March 12, the chief executive deployed the military to ensure the peace and order for one month.

A follower of Pangilinan explained the purpose of the military during the community quarantine.

“Our Military are necessary due to the limited number of our health workers. Their purpose is limited to general crowd control. Though, sana, equipped din sila ng PPEs and meron ding at least isang health worker na kasama. They are part of a cluster in Incident Command Systems,” @robipastera told Pangilinan.

Pangilinan responded, saying that she’s only concerned that instead of sanitizing paraphernalia, the military was shown carrying their weapons.

“Yes po I’m more concerned about the fact it appears they’re mobilizing for something else. in South Korea for example, all military personnel are equipped with sanitization paraphernalia. in comparison, ours are armed,” Pangilinan said.

yes po i’m more concerned about the fact it appears they’re mobilizing for something else. in south korea for example, all military personnel are equipped with sanitization paraphernalia. in comparison, ours are armed.

— frankie pangilinan (@kakiep83) March 17, 2020

She also stated that the government had the chance to prepare earlier for the virus.

“At any rate, we had months to prepare for this and could’ve easily been much more on top of it than we are now. the test kits should’ve been mass produced and government funded. and now we’re panic mode because there was neither adequate prevention nor preparation,” she said.

at any rate, we had months to prepare for this and could’ve easily been much more on top of it than we are now. the test kits should’ve been mass produced and government funded. and now we’re panic mode because there was neither adequate prevention nor preparation.

— frankie pangilinan (@kakiep83) March 17, 2020

Several critics of the government suspected that the Duterte administration is planning to declare martial law, however, the President denied it, saying that the current situation doesn’t need it.

Pangilinan is not the only public personality who questioned the decisions of the Duterte administration, even artist Juan Miguel Severo took a swipe to the President, saying that the virus may really stay away from the police and soldiers because they’re more frightening because of the alleged EJKs they committed.

The officials of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) in Davao City informed Mayor Inday Sara Duterte that they’re going to follow the community quarantine rules in Davao City.

In an interview with DCDR 87.5, Mayor Duterte said that she received a text from INC, informing her that they’re going to temporarily stop their religious activities as a response to the executive order signed by the presidential daughter.

“Kami po ay susunod sa alintuntunin ng gobyerno at pansamantala po muna naming ipapatigil ang aming pagtitipon tipon sa bawat kapilya,” Inday Sara said while reading the text from INC.

The Mayor thanked her brothers and sisters in INC for responding positively to her request.

She was also glad that INC didn’t think that her request is an infringement of their religious freedom.

Inday Sara said that the members of Iglesia Ni Cristo can still do their religious activities via the internet or other ways without having a mass gathering.

“They can find other modes on how to exercise their religion na hindi mag mass gathering,” Duterte said.

A few days ago, Mayor Duterte sent a warning to INC, asking them to stop their religious activities or else face legal actions.

“We already told you through an executive order that all religious ceremonies should be suspended. I want to remind members of Iglesia Ni Cristo that praying inside the church will not save you from the virus. It will not prevent you from getting infected and from getting sick,” Duterte said.

“If we cannot appeal to INC to suspend their activities, then we are exploring what we can do on the legal side,” she added.

Some members of INC defended their actions after reading Duterte’s warning and declared that no one could stop them from doing their religious activity.

“INC has always been very supportive of the Government programs as long as it does not interfere with our faith, especially our freedom of worship,” INC member Wally Cuarto stated.

“Kung may masamang mangyari sa amin tulad ng digmaan, baha, salot o taggutom, haharap kami sa TEMPLONG ITO upang humingi ng tulong sa iyo sapagkat dito ka sinasamba, tatawag kami sa iyo, papakinggan mo kami at ililigtas sa panahon ng aming kagipitan. (2 Cronica 20:9) BMBB” he added.

They also explained that they’re following social distancing and deployed nurses in some of their churches to check their members.

Mayor Isko Moreno made some way to help the health workers in Manila City affected by the community quarantine and public transportation ban.

Yesterday, the Manila City Government hired buses that are planned to use for the frontliners, health workers and some employees of Manila. Mayor Moreno personally inspected the buses.

Aside from offering free transportation to the COVID-19 front liners, Moreno signed executive order no. 17 that ordering motels and hotels in the city as a temporary shelter of the health workers working in hospitals in Manila.

The Mayor said that hotels should follow the executive order ‘voluntarily or involuntarily’.

Moreno cited the Local Government Code of 1991 which gave powers to mayors to “carry out such emergency measures as may be necessary” during a state of calamity.

President Duterte already put the whole country under a state of calamity due to COVID-19.

“Sa mga may ari ng hotel, I hope, in line of the call of the President to act in unison, in solidarity as Filipinos, I hope you will cooperate with the call of your city, and I’m grateful immediately some respondent already favorable to the executive order voluntarily,” he said.

There are around 531 rooms available for the health workers and Moreno already asked his staff to gather the list of all nurses and doctors working in the city.

According to Moreno, Sogo is going to provide 421 rooms, Eurotel to provide 50 rooms, and Town and Country to provide 60 rooms.

Moreno made the said executive order after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) ordered all hotels to stop their operations except those with existing bookings with foreigners.

While Moreno seems already solved the problem of the health workers in his City, some Mayors like Vico Sotto are still looking for ways to help the frontliners in his city.

Yesterday, Sotto allowed tricycles to operate around the city to help health workers, however, the authorities rejected the Pasig Mayor’s order.

Cabinet Secretary Nograles said that tricycles are not allowed to operate during the community quarantine period because of the difficulties of practicing social distancing in a small vehicle.

However, Nograles suggested that Mayors like Sotto can look for bigger vehicles to be used to help health workers.

“Sa tricycle, let’s address that, concern talaga ang gobyerno sa paggamit ng tricycle dahil hindi namin lubos makita o maintindihan kung paano mag social distancing sa tricylce, number one,” Nograles said.

“Number two, ang concern po ng LGU ay ganyan, maari namang gumawa ng mga initiatives ang mga LGU, with regard to vehicles na hindi naman kailangan tricycle ang gamitin, so may means po ang LGU na gumamit ng other means of transportation, meron po silang sariling sasakyan o di kaya’y  gumamit sila ng sasakyan ng iba at makiusap, or other means,” he added.

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.

A netizen shared a receipt showing the estimated amount needed to pay by a Person under Investigation (PUI) for COVID-19.

On a Facebook post, Jerick Enopia tried to convince the people not to insist on going to their job by showing how much financial burden they could get if they got infected by COVID-19.

“So pili nalang. Pilitin pumasok sa work. Kikita ka ng 15-25k vs 90k na estimated bill kapag tinamaan ka. Ikaw bahala,” Enopia said.

According to the photo he posted, the estimated hospital bill amounted to 90,223 pesos.

Enopia didn’t disclose the hospital where the bill came from.

Fortunately, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced that the Philippine Insure Corporation (PhilHealth) will shoulder the quarantine, isolation and testing kit cost.

“The last thing we want is for our citizens to worry about medical costs and expenses. Their only concern should be their well-being and the well-being of their families,” said Nograles.

However, Nograles didn’t mention if the emergency room fee are covered by PhilHealth.

Recently, PhilHealth also released P30-B to accredited hospital as a response against COVID-19.

“Further, the state health insurer will also provide its members and service partners with additional relief in view of the recent declaration of a state of public health emergency in the country by extending the deadline of payment of contributions for its self-paying direct contributors. They can now pay their first-quarter contributions on or before April 30, 2020, instead of March 31, 2020, without interest,”  the statement read.

“Moreover, its policy on a single period of confinement and 45-days coverage are also waived in favor of the member, while the filing period for claims is also extended from the usual 60 days to at least 120 days in favor of the health care providers” 

Aside from testing fees, PhilHealth said that Filipinos can avail their P14,000 health package if they got quarantined because of COVID-19.

People who tested positive in COVID-19 can also seek a beneficiary package of up to P32,000.

The Mayor of the second richest city in the Philippines said that they need assistance from the national government as they might get short of budget to buy food for their residents next month.

In a press conference Wednesday, Joy Belmonte of Quezon City vowed to feed 400,000 families during the whole period of community quarantine in the Philippines so they’re not going to worry from being jobless for one month.

“Tayo po yung may pinakamalaki at pinakamaraming sustentuhan in the few weeks leading up to April 12,” Belmonte said.

“Next week, March 23 to March 27, QC will be able to provide food for these 400,000 families. The week after that, the QC gov’t will again be able to provide for them,” she added.

She also ordered the barangay captains to activate their quick response fund to help their people.

“Gamitin niyo para pambili ng pagkain para sa mga nawalan ng kabuhayan, dahil it will take time for the city government to procure food supplies for 400,000 families,” the Mayor told the Quezon City, barangay captains.

However, they said that they might get short of the budget in the fourth week of the community quarantine, that’s why they’re already informing the national government and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to help them.

“Sa ika-apat na linggo, medyo magkukulang na po ang pondo ng lungsod, sapagkat ang quick response fund po natin ay mauubos na, at ang halaga nito ay P400-M lang ata, and we have other things to take care of katulad hospital equipment,” she said.

“We are now appealing to the DSWD, national government na sana tulungan naman nila kami sa lungsod ng Quezon,” she added.

Quezon City is one of the cities affected by the month-long community quarantine ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Mayor Vico Sotto urged the national government to allow the tricycles in Pasig to operate explaining that people’s lives might be in danger if there’s no public transport roaming around the city.

In an interview with the reporters, Sotto revealed that some tricycle drivers that he allowed to operate today were apprehended by the authorities because of violating the ‘enhanced community quarantine’ which ordered that all public transportations were not allowed.

According to him, people who are seeking medical help have no choice but to stay at home because no public transport could bring them to the hospital.

“Hindi na po para sa tricycle driver, para nalang po sa public health and safety dahil ako po sa risk assessment na ginawa namin kapag hindi po natin pinayagan ang mga tricycle ay mas marami po ang mmatay,” Sotto said.

Sotto argued that people of Pasig might lose their lives not because of COVID-19, but because of the inability to go to the hospital.

The Mayor also denied that he’s defying the order of President Rodrigo Duterte, saying that they’re willing to cooperate with the national government as long as there’s already public transportation available for the public health workers and patients.

He said that while they’re already offering free transport services for health workers and others, their vehicles are not enough to accommodate all of them.

“Kulang po talaga sa ngayon, kaya bakit hindi nalang muna natin payagan [yung mga tricycle],” he said.

Yesterday, Sotto ordered the tricycles to operate around Pasig, citing that people still need public transportation despite the order from the national government disallowing it.

He said that only people exempted from the public quarantine are allowed to use the tricycles.

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Italy were furious with ABS-CBN journalist Karen Davila after the latter mentioned in national television that the Italian Government is giving food stamps to its citizens.

Davila who’s covering the enhanced community quarantine imposed on Luzon was talking about the food security of some countries who got affected by the COVID-19 and she mentioned Italy as one of the examples.

“Sa italy ay binibigyan ng mga vouchers ang mga tao para makapunta sa supermarket at makakuha ng pagkain ng libre,” Davila said.

However, some netizens working in Italy called the attention of Davila and informed her that there’s no food stamps or food being given to them by the government.

“Hoyyy Karen Davila sinong may sabing may libre vouchers dito sa Italy!!!I am from italy and we are in total lockdown but the food we buy it on our own pockets..makabalita ka palpak pa!may maibatikos lang sa gobyerno!nasan ang krebilidad mo!? Mahiya ka!!!! nga,” netizen Sylvia Apolonia said.

“Dito sa Italya kayod marino ang mga filipinos,pati hininga binabayaran dito,tapos ibabalita mo dyan sa Pilipinas may mga boucher ang mga taong naka clockdown dito sa italya,humusay usa ka nga karen lagi kay FAULT tuwing bumubuka ang bibig mo,” netizen Mhay Ayala commented.

“Hoy! Karen davila sa sariling bulsa namin kinukuha ang aming mga pambiling pagkain.. hindi sa government ng italy for your info,” Primz Bruno remarked.

Another netizen tried to ask Davila for clarification on her Instagram.

The journalist then clarified that the voucher is still only a proposal.

“Ma’am, correction. There is a proposed €600 voucher/financial assistance for mothers in Italy (can be used for food) as reported in the New York Times,” Davila told the OFW.

One netizen even made a vlog to debunk Davila.

Kristina’s Vlog, a Filipina working in Italy said that they’re not receiving anything from the Italian government and they’re forced to use their savings to buy basic needs.

“Sana po kapag magbabalita kayo siguraduhin niyo rin na tama yung binabalita niyo kasi wala pong free dito, siguro free lang dito yung tubig kasi may mga fountain dito na pwede kang uminom ng tubig,” she said.

Italy is one of the most affected countries by COVID-19.

As of writing, there are already 26,062 people infected by the said virus in Italy.