Duterte offers to pay Covid patients’ bills
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has offered to pay for the hospital expenses of Filipinos infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) as he reiterated his order for local government officials to help those stranded amid the pandemic.
In a public address late Thursday night, Duterte said he had “no problem” shouldering the hospital cost of ordinary Filipinos, telling local government officials to just send him the hospital bill.
“If he is sick, he can seek hospitalization and charge everything to [the] government,” he added.
Duterte then directed local government officials to “expedite” the hospitalization of people needing medical assistance in their communities.
“I would like to convey to the mayor: help anyone. Not — not even Filipinos, foreigners, who are in your place and who go to you or who go to the municipal building, the seat of governance of your municipality to seek help,” he said.
The President also warned local government officials of rejecting patients who sought admission.
He also asked local officials not to block the return of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to their hometowns, saying it was their constitutional right to travel back home.
Over 16,000 overseas OFWs in various quarantine facilities in Metro Manila had been sent home as of May 27, according to the latest government data.
To accommodate a new batch of repatriates expected to arrive this May and June, the national government is expediting the processing and release of Covid-19 test results of OFWs as they are expected around 300,000 more OFWs to return to the country.
Meanwhile, President Duterte has vowed to release an official report about the procurement of medical equipment and supplies for the government’s response against the Covid-19 pandemic to dismiss allegations about the misuse of public funds.
“Hindikaminambobola.Sinabi ko, do not f**k with the people’s money. With more reason that we will not f**k with the money,” he said about the recent medical procurement, calling out Senators Franklin Drilon and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who claimed about irregularities during the purchases.
“May I inform Senator[s] Drilon and Ping Lacson, and everybody, ganunangnangyari (that’s what happened). We will have a report coming your way and that is the stand of the Office of the President. Kamihoangnag-utos niyan ( We ordered the supply purchase),” he added.
The President told the two senators to “wait for the report” out of respect for his office and advised them against believing whatever allegations about the purchase of supplies and equipment.
“You will have the explanation and better believe it because ‘ yunangtotoo ( That’s the truth),” he said.
He also defended Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd from criticisms linking him to the alleged anomalous transactions, stressing that he himself ordered the supply purchase since he knew the Health department was already “overworked” at the time.
Duterte explained that the local supplier who supposedly offered a lower price for the medical equipment did not actually participate in the bidding process.
Senators and other sectors have called for Duque’s resignation for his handling of the Covid-19 health crisis, the alleged overpriced supplies and equipment, as well as for his recent claim that the country is now experiencing the second wave of Covid-19 infection, which he later took back.
Early this week, President Duterte asked the National Bureau of Investigation to carefully study allegations that a local supplier was selling overpriced medical equipment in the country.