Published by Bayan Metro Manila
The deadly Duterte variant is the biggest threat facing Filipinos today
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque blamed the new coronavirus variant for the surge in COVID-19 cases when it is clear that our alarming situation today should be attributed to the government’s bungled pandemic response.
Duterte stubbornly enforced lockdown measures which not only failed to contain the virus but also led to disastrous social and economic dislocations. His militarized response created fear which became the government’s model in dealing with the public health crisis.
The ECQ in 2020 was applied sans mass testing, tracing, and treatment. It’s being revived today amid the uncertainty surrounding the roll-out of vaccines. In both 2020 and 2021, the government deployed troops in checkpoints and other public places to observe health protocols when all stakeholders are clamoring for urgent medical solutions.
The government claims its policies are data-driven but it is obvious that the framework in addressing the crisis is through the lens of the security cluster. Hence, the imposition of questionable restrictions such as the 6pm curfew and the hard lockdown regulations implemented by authorities.
We doubt if the data they are compiling are intended to benefit the public since the pandemic-related policies have been consistently anti-poor, anti-worker, anti-youth, anti-women, and anti-democracy. The government is equating the herding of people and silencing of critics with succes as if these are scientific solutions to the pandemic.
Reviving the ECQ and extending the world’s longest lockdown will continue to be counterproductive as long as the militarist approach is used to deal with the pandemic.
Duterte is liable for his failed leadership during the pandemic. The absentee president could not think of other ways to face the crisis other than to sow fear and brutally control the movement of people. This discredited frame of mind has led to tragic consequences since 2016. We deserve better than this murderous, callous, and incompetent regime.
Roque urged the people to reflect about the pandemic during the Holy Week. He should regret giving this advice since another ECQ lockdown will certainly force many Filipinos to realize that the heaviest burden we are carrying is the failed presidency of Duterte. And the only way to end our miseries is to fight for a new and better government.
Wakasan ang kalbaryo ng mamamayan,
Patalsikin ang Rehimeng Duterte!
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