By John Clifford Lintao
MEDICAL organizations behind the call for a two-week enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila to give health workers a respite from the rising number of COVID-19 said they never thought of instigating a revolution, not even leaving their patients.
In a statement, the Philippine College of Physicians its call for a “time out” last week was neither a threat nor a call for revolt.
“We were taken aback and surprised when you highlighted in your address to the nation last night that we are indispensable but not irreplaceable so we beg your indulgence and allow us to rectify this impression,” PCP president Dr. Mario Panaligan told Duterte in a letter posted on Facebook.
“If you closely review the virtual conference on August 1, there was never a call for a revolt nor was there any threat of leaving patients on their own since our oath instructs us to first do no harm to anyone who needs our help,” he added.
Duterte on Sunday approved the re-imposition of for modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and nearby provinces after the PCP and other groups’ call for an ECQ.
The President, however, called out the physicians for publicly airing the concern instead of telling him what they wanted. He said they demeaned the government in doing so.
Duterte also indicated that the doctors called for a revolution and went on to unleash a rant against health workers, saying they could have “written a letter” or asked for an audience to request a temporary return to an enhanced community quarantine for Metro Manila instead of making a public statement.
Panaligan said the PCP “highly appreciated” what he called Duterte’s “quick response” on the call for a two-week break.
He said the president took their message “in a negative light.”
Panaligan said it was not the PCP’s intention to humiliate the government when it called for a return to a stricter quarantine as health workers were already worn out due to the rising number of COVID-19 patients being admitted in hospitals.
“The call was for the DOH and the IATF to provide the (health care workers) a fighting chance in the war against COVID and prevent unnecessary fatalities — nothing more,” Panaligan said.
As this developed, Panaligan said the PCP wrote the Department of Health a letter in April, requesting for test kits to be reserved for health workers who would be on duty on a two-week rotation.