Presidential spokesman lashes out at Filipinos over lack of discipline in adhering to quarantine.

roque laments lack of discipline as nation records most cases in SEA

FILIPINOS should be ashamed for showing a lack of discipline and for violating the guidelines of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

Returning presidential spokesman Harry Roque said yesterday after the Philippines topped other South-East Asian countries in terms of confirmed Covid-19 cases despite the lockdown of Luzon.

As of Wednesday, data shows the Philippines has the most number of Covid-19 cases in South-East Asia with 5,453 confirmed cases, including 349 deaths and 353 recoveries.

The Philippines is followed by Indonesia with 5,136 while Malaysia ranked 3rd with 5,072.

President Duterte placed the entire Luzon, home to about half the country’s total population, under a month-long enhanced community quarantine to curtail the spread of Covid-19.

The quarantine was extended until April 30.

Roque also pointed out that only the Philippines has recorded traffic congestion in some areas despite a lockdown.

The Palace official then called on mothers to start enforcing the quarantine in their households.

He also said that Malacanang is ready to utilise its resources in ensuring the safety of the President as he leads the country amid the pandemic.

“Let me make this very clear: We make no apologies for the fact that we are protecting the life of the President,” Roque said in a virtual briefing.

The presidential security group said on Wednesday anyone, including officials, is mandated to undergo rapid testing for the coronavirus called SARS-COV-2.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, spokesman of the Inter-Agency Task Force handling the government’s response to the Covid-19 crisis, said Filipinos should not be alarmed by the development as it is not a competition but a race for detection and containment.