Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque lost his cool and berated physicians during an IATF meeting. Such brazen show of arrogance of power and depravity adds force to snowballing calls for the cantankerous Palengkera to resign.
PRESIDENTIAL Spokesman Harry Roque, human rights lawyer, law instructor, congressman, and planning to be senator, was caught with his slip showing, revealing his character of arrogance, indelicacy and uncouthness.
This occurred during a meeting of the IATF, where he lambasted a group of physicians for allegedly rejecting the government's current policies on community quarantine.
Opinyon Quezonin was witness to a similar condescending tirade released by Spox Roque against some members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Quezon province during the recent celebration of Quezon Day, August 19.
But this one against leaders of various medical organizations whose members are sacrificing their lives and future, along with the safety of their children and family members, just to fulfill their professional duty is indeed reprehensible.
Marlon Ramos' scoop
Senior reporter Marlon Ramos of the Philippine Daily Inquirer shared on Twitter a leaked video clip of the controversial outburst, prompting one lady physician to call out Roque:
"Ang bastos mo!"
The video that became viral on social media shows Secretary Roque scolding physicians during the meeting while boasting that the government is on top of the situation in handling the COVID-19 pandemic response.
The uncontrollable Spox said: "Do not sit there as if you are the only ones right. We're trying to achieve total health. Who wants COVID to kill people? Are you saying that only medical frontliners are concerned about the health of the people? We all want to save lives."
"We're crying out loud. No one in the government wants a single life lost. No one! How dare you think that we are not considering steps to prevent the loss of lives?"
The outburst, which was out of place in such a high-level Palace meeting, surprised Dr. Limpin and Dr. Dans, for they have not said anything that would be considered as arrogant.
Swift response
Dr. Maricar Limpin's reaction mentions the plight of doctors and nurses. She said, "Maraming healthcare workers ang pagod, umiiyak, naglalabas ng galit, o nagre-resign na sa trabaho. Nagdurugo ang puso namin, at humihingi kami ng patawad, sa mga pasyenteng kinakailangang tanggihan dahil di na kayang ma-admit." Limpin continues: "Personally and I hope that (Harry Roque) does not or will not say that I'm being political when I say this because definitely, I have no politics... I can only speak my mind out. As far as I'm concerned, the President should actually remove him from office. Palitan na niya because he is not doing service to our President."
The public reacted thru Twitter, thus: Gov. Chiz Escudero said, "We who work in government have 'no right' to lose our patience nor berate people publicly. Our offices (appointive/elective) never gave us that right! Rather, it is our job to listen to people & make them understand -- both what we are doing or cannot do in any situation."
From Dr. Tony Leachon: "By berating the physician leaders and ignoring the concerns of the healthcare workers, Sec. Roque has closed the door for recommendations coming from the major stakeholders of the pandemic. How can we then solve this crisis?"
Journalist Inday Espina Varona observed, "Nakakahawa nga ang Boss nila. You now have rantings and meltdowns up and down the government hierarchy. Because when you can't or won't... you fume?"
Roque's apology
To be fair, Roque has mumbled an apology, admitting that he got "emotional" after hearing the proposal of Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the Philippine College of Physicians, and Dr. Antonio Dans, convenor of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19, to impose a two-week hard lockdown.
Roque said: "Kinukumpirma ko po na tayo'y naging emosyonal at pasensiya naman po kayo at tao lamang.
"That's the first time that I lost my bearing in an IATF meeting, but as I said I may apologize and I have in fact apologized for the manner but never for the message."
The spokesman explained that his harsh words toward the doctors were occasioned by his desire to drive home the sentiments of ordinary Filipinos who are hungry and jobless and wanted the lockdowns to end so that they can pursue their livelihood in an economy that is reopening.
"Nagalit po talaga ako dahil sa tingin ko panahon na po na marinig ang inyong boses ng IATF. Tama na po ang lockdown, magtatagal po talaga ang COVID hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong daigdig," Roque explained.
His explanation
The spokesman explained: "We employed the entire-government approach, thinking about economic ramifications, thinking about the people (who) will go hungry. It does not mean that we care any less. And let me point out to everyone: this group, they've never said anything good about government response."
Many people, however, do not consider this "apology" as sincere. Ted Te said, "It is so easy to say 'I apologize', harder to sincerely mean it, much more difficult to repent and actually change. Without the last two, an apology isn't worth much. And besides, he really didn't apologize to the health workers he insulted."
Michael Fajatin added, "Yung kayabangan, kabastusan at kasinungalingan kapag nagkamali at sinabi nilang 'tao lang' sila... mahirap na rin paniwalaan kung tao ba talaga sila."
Outburst in Quezon
Last Aug. 19, Quezon Gov. Danny Suarez invited Roque to speak at the Quezon Day program in Perez Park, Lucena City. Informed by Suarez that his political opponents in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan had not passed the 2021 provincial budget, Harry Roque turned his inspirational speech into a fiery outburst just like the one with the doctors at the IATF meeting.
Roque shouted: "Kung makapagsasalita ang Presidente Quezon, ang sasabihin nya sa mga gahamang pulitikong yan: Mahiya kayo, ang kakapal ng mukha ninyo, namumulitika sa panahon ng pandemiya!" He aired the insults to the majority Provincial Board members even without investigating the issue.
Not a few netizens advised the presidential Spox to learn a lesson or two in anger or emotion management. Many others said he should resign for behaving like a spoiled brat and not a public servant. We advise him both. (With a report by Diego C. Cagahastian)