Community pantries, 'di insulto sa gobyerno - Roque

ni Ronalyn Seminiano Reonico | April 19, 2021

Ang pagbuo ng mga community pantries kung saan maaaring kumuha ng mga food items ang publiko nang libre ay hindi umano upang kondenahin ang pamahalaan sa pakikibaka ng bansa laban sa COVID-19, ayon kay Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Saad ni Roque, “It shows the best of the Filipino. It is part of our psyche to help one another. I don’t see it as a condemnation of the government. It shows the best of us during the worst of times.”

Matatandaang sinabi nina Senator Panfilo Lacson at former Vice-President Jejomar Binay na ang paglitaw ng mga community pantries na nagsimula sa Maginhawa Street, Quezon City ay dahil sa kakulangan ng sapat na ayuda ng pamahalaan.

Nang isailalim ang NCR Plus na kinabibilangan ng Metro Manila at mga karatig na lugar sa enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) dahil sa patuloy na paglobo ng kaso ng COVID-19, marami ang nawalan ng hanapbuhay at lumiit ang kita.

Saad pa ni Lacson, “It is good that through the community pantries, we see mutual aid by neighbors and barangay residents. But this is also a sign of desperation, that people can no longer rely on the government to help them.”

Tweet naman ni Binay, “The message behind the rise of community pantries is simple: when government is absent, we can look after each other.”

Pahayag naman ni Bayan Muna Party-List Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate, "We should not forget that the rise of community pantries is emblematic of how the present administration, despite the available resources, grossly failed in its obligations to help millions of our poor people cope with the ravages of the crisis.”

Ngunit ayon kay Roque, ang mga community pantries ay nagpapakita ng bayanihan.

Asymptomatic naman daw… Spox Roque, gusto nang umuwi kahit positive sa COVID-19

ni Lolet Abania | March 18, 2021

Nilinaw ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque ang alegasyon na siya ay naka-isolate umano sa isang posh hotel sa Pasay matapos na magpositibo sa test sa COVID-19 noong March 15, dahil aniya, nasa isang quarantine facility siya sa San Juan City.

“That [I was in a posh hotel] is fake news. I am in San Juan [city], along Annapolis Street,” ani Roque sa isang Palace briefing. “We don’t even have the means to pay for that hotel [in Pasay]. Hindi naman po ako nasa motel. This is a two-star hotel,” dagdag niya.

Ayon kay Roque, ang isang indibidwal na nagpositibo sa test sa COVID-19 ay pinapayagang mag-check-in sa isang government-accredited hotel na ginawang quarantine facility at may iba ring mga government officials na infected ng coronavirus na naka-quarantine na sa parehong pasilidad.

Kabilang dito ang isang anchor ng state broadcasting company na PTV, personnel mula sa Malacañang Accreditation and Relations Office, isang director sa opisina ni Roque at isa pang undersecretary mula sa ibang departamento.

Ayon pa kay Roque, susunod siya sa kanyang doktor kapag sinabi nitong manatili siya sa nasabing quarantine facility, kahit pa siya ay asymptomatic.

“That [isolating at home] is possible because I noticed that I am asymptomatic and people here have symptoms. I would be conferring with my doctor if I would be better off staying here or going home,” sabi ni Roque. Gayunman, matatandaang tumanggi si Roque na ipakita ang kanyang RT-PCR test na nagresulta sa COVID-19 positive.

Aniya, “I don’t think it is important.”