ABS-CBN broadcast journalist Karen Davila couldn’t help but vent out her anger on politicians who keep on availing of COVID-19 tests in their homes despite the country’s limited stocks of test kits.
In a tweet, Saturday, March 19, Davila said it’s appalling to know that politicians and their staff keep on breaking the set protocol by the DOH (Department of Health) amidst deficient supplies of test kits for the general public. She added, she hoped all of their names will be revealed to the public soon.
“Nakakagalit. Tumigil na kayong mga pulitiko at staff ninyo na nagpapa-test pa sa bahay pa sa ating DOH surveillance team. Dapat lahat ng pangalan nyo mabunyag sa totoo lang.”
Nakakagalit. Tumigil na kayong mga pulitiko at staff ninyo na nagpapa-test pa sa bahay pa sa ating DOH surveillance team. Dapat lahat ng pangalan nyo mabunyag sa totoo lang.
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) March 21, 2020
According to the guidelines set by the DOH, only PUIs (Persons Under Investigation) in severe to the critical condition must undergo testing for COVID-19.
Asymptomatic patients, on the other hand, are considered PUMs (Persons Under Monitoring) who don’t need to undergo testing. They are those with exposure history and should only undergo a 14-day home quarantine. PUMs will get tested if they start manifesting symptoms and have been assessed to be high-risk due to other underlying diseases and old age.
In the case of the politicians, they are all asymptomatic with only a history of exposure to COVID-19 positive cases.
Netizens react
Meanwhile, the majority of netizens who replied to Karen’s tweet agreed that these politicians should be named and revealed to the public. So that people will know the thick faced politicos who
Ilabas na ang listahan! Memoryado ko ang algorithm since March 10. Wag silang ano. Hindi sila dapat tinetest kung asymptomatic.
— Winlove Mojica, MD (@theskinsensei) March 21, 2020
Ilabas na dapat yan! Imbis na yung mas nararapat ang matest, sila pa ang inuna! 🤬🤬🤬
— PinknoymomARMY 🌈 💜💚 (@pinoymommy) March 21, 2020
Pls NAME ALL OF THEM! Even elderly patients are going through long hours to follow proper protocol for testing!
— Jimmy H. Kang (@Kang55H) March 21, 2020
Pls NAME ALL OF THEM! Even elderly patients are going through long hours to follow proper protocol for testing!
— Jimmy H. Kang (@Kang55H) March 21, 2020
https://twitter.com/rgapas_/status/1241326399526330368
https://twitter.com/farah_yuan/status/1241317094798454784
UNBELIEVABLE……yet not unexpected… Disgraceful…Call them out @iamkarendavila !
— Tirso Ripoll (@TirsoRipoll) March 21, 2020
Other netizens, on the other hand, shared the names of those who got tested based on news articles.
Why dont we start a thread of all those politicians and their relatives? pic.twitter.com/MTI5dCQj6Z
— Marky (@MarkyFul) March 21, 2020
Ito…Galing sa news items:Bong Go, head ng PSG, Honeylet, Kitty, Paolo and Baste Duterte , Medialdea, Mark Villar Tugade, Domingues, Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, Zubiri and wife, Jonvic and staff nya (nsgsorry), Sotto, Pia Cayetano, Grace Poe, Lacson, Tolentino, Marcos.
— daphine3 (@daphine36) March 21, 2020
https://twitter.com/lego1166143104/status/1241317812817162241
ALL ASYMPTOMATIC but got tested: Senators Tito Sotto, Ping Lacson, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe, Francis Tolentino, Bong Revilla, Pia Cayetano #NoToVIPCovidTesting pic.twitter.com/S8vCsiNxhb
— Marky (@MarkyFul) March 21, 2020
— JM (@BaddictsPH) March 21, 2020