Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Wednesday told President Rodrigo Duterte to focus on the COVID-19 crisis instead of dismissing his pleas for medicine, adding they were bound for a political face-off later in the year.
Moreno earlier appealed for more supplies of COVID-19 medicines remdesivir and tocilizumab from the national government, which Palace spokesperson Harry Roque dismissed as "politicking" from someone who would run in 2022. Moreno then urged Duterte to sack insensitive officials.
"Ako nananawagan ha, ng buong kababaang loob, gusto n'yo lumuhod pa ako. Nananawagan ako sa 'yo, Mr President. Tanggalin n'yo ang mga taong walang malasakit sa kapwa n'ya. Ako talaga, mag-kwentas klaras na tayo, anyway kakaharapin ko naman kayo sa Oktubre," he said during a press conference.
“You still have eight months, I don’t want to teach you what to do pero nakikiusap kami, makisuyo lang Mr. President. Tanggalin mo na mga talipandas na kawani ng pamahalaan, 'yung mga walang malasakit. Nakikiusap kami, Mr. President,” said Moreno.
October is when those who want to run in 2022 will file their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Roque on Monday responded to Moreno's pleas by telling him to look for alternatives as medicine supply is scarce.
"Huwag po tayong magpadala sa usaping pulitika... Ang katotohanan po, lahat po ng gamot ay naririyan, kung nagkukulang tayo ng Toci (tocilizumab), hindi po dahil sa hindi tayo bumili kung hindi walang supply at humahanap po ng alternatibo," Roque said during a press briefing.
“Yung mga pasangganong-pasangganong sagot, nabili na 'yan, kumita na 'yan noong 2016," Moreno said, daring "gangster" government officials to face him in Tondo.
"Wag nating dadalhin ang away sa gobyerno tapos ang apektado, tao. Tsinutsubibo n'yo kami, puro naman kayo manduduro. Pakita n'yo tapang n'yo rito,” he said.
Stop 'living in Wonderland'
Moreno said he issued a public plea because the government seemed to be "living in Wonderland" when it brushed off calls for more medicines and continued implementing the face shield mandate.
"If this medicine can save lives, then we should focus our little resources on things that can save lives, hindi face shield. 'Wag na kayo makipagkulitan sa akin, walang bisa ang face shield, bakit ba 'yan ang pinipilit nyo lagi? Gamot, gamot, gamot ang kailangan ng tao," he said.
"Bilyon ang ginastos ninyo sa plastik na wala namang bisa pero wala tayong remdesivir, tocilizumab ni hindi ninyo mabigay ang marapat sa frontliner. Tapos kung makapag-Pharmally kayo para kayong family," said Moreno, referring to Duterte's former economic adviser Michael Yang on his alleged links to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. which bagged over P8 billion in contracts for medical supplies.
“Talaga palang ang pinaniniwalaan n'yo na lang 'yung poon n'yo, ang pinaniniwalaan n'yo na lang pala talaga sarili n'yo, mukhang may hangin kayo sa utak at naglolobohan na 'yung utak ninyo sa kapangyarihan. Kapit-tuko na lang kayo."
The Manila mayor said his keeping quiet instead of airing suggestions did little to help his constituents. It's also unfair that his concerns weren't taken seriously because of rumors that he would run for higher office.
"'Wag mo akusahan ang mamamayan mo 'pag nagmamakaawa sa 'yo, gamot tocilizumab ang bilhin n'yo, 'wag face shield. Ano dun ang politika? 'Wag ho kayong adik. Tamang hinala ho kayo e. Baka kala yata nito sila lang matapang e," said Moreno.
“Basta magkikita tayo sa finals kung gusto n'yo ng pulitika, may panahon kami para sa inyo. For now, magligtas tayo ng tao.”
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