Actress Tetchie Agbayani shared an important message to the Government as she lost someone due to COVID-19.
On her facebook, with the tragedy that struck her, she blamed the Government for not listening to the public. In February 2020, after the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in the country, the public, including Vice President Leni Robredo, called for the Duterte administration to close the Philippine border. This is to avoid any further infection.
The actress shared the possibility that if only the Philippines closed its borders as early as February of last year, the country could have been Covid-free like Mongolia.
But unfortunately, the government insisted that closing the border would mean that it would offend the feelings of China, Duterte’s BFF.
“If only the call to close our borders last February 2020 was heeded, we could have been COVID-free like Mongolia.”
That is what Agbayani wrote on her facebook post as the public’s call fell on deaf ears.
It can be recalled that on January 29 of 2020, Duterte was not in favor of banning travel between the Philippines and China. His reason is that it is not easy to do so, knowing that other countries are also affected by the coronavirus.
“Mahirap ‘yang ano, sabihin mong you suspend everything because they are not also suspending theirs and they continue to respect the freedom flights that we enjoy,” said Duterte in an ambush interview.
DOH (Department of Health) Secretary Francisco Duque III also objected to the idea. Duque said that if the country closed the border, China may question the Philippines for doing so.
“If we do this, then the concerned country — China in this case — might question why we’re not doing the same for other countries that have reported confirmed cases of novel coronavirus,” said Duque in a statement.
However, the decision of the Duterte administration resulted in the Philippines having the longest and strictest lockdown around the world.
And with the result of the Government prioritizing the feelings of China rather than its citizens, Agbayani expressed her frustration. In her post, she did not expect that the administration, who is partly to be blamed by the still unbeatable COVID-19, had shown no empathy to the masses.
Agbayani then stressed that the Philippines is “running on its own.”
Ms. Tetchie Agbayani
@TetchieAgbayani pic.twitter.com/31UTQuU1IZ
— Souichiro Dempsey
(@chiro_dempsey47) April 11, 2021
“Hate is such a strong word. But this highest leader in Government and his minions are such [a] hateful bunch. And to think that the whole world is suffering from this deadly pandemic, you would expect that they would show some empathy and do their earnest efforts to help the people and alleviate the situation—but they are nowhere to be found. the country is running on its own,” wrote Agbayani.
The actress also called for Congress to wake up and declare the highest position vacant. This is after Duterte, failed to address the pandemic situation for over a year, with cases going higher every day.
“It’s time for Congress to wake up from their stupor and declare the highest seat vacant,” she said in her post.
However, Agbayani also knew that Congress will not do such a thing. in her frustration, she even called the senators “scared, hedonistic, and self-preserving snakes” as they continue to support Duterte in his decisions.
Nevertheless, the actress believes that these senators will soon get what they deserve.
“But alas, they are a bunch of running scared, hedonistic, and self-preserving snakes. God sees all and they will reap what they deserve. This, I strongly believe.”
