ni Ronalyn Seminiano Reonico | June 22, 2021
Mariing sinabi ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte noong Lunes na hindi niya susundin ang korte sa pagha-handle ng COVID-19 pandemic.
Saad ng pangulo, “I’m a lawyer. I respect the judiciary and I can assure them that we will follow the orders but at this time of a national emergency, I would just like to inform the courts that I will not follow them.
“I will insist on what is necessary to protect the people.”
Pahayag pa ni P-Duterte, "The courts are put to notice that what we have there is a national emergency. That is why we came with a proclamation declaring this pandemic is of a national interest.
"So ‘yung mga korte, hindi naman sa inyo, huwag na lang ninyong ipalabas kasi magkakaroon ng impasse and I do not want to lock horns with the judiciary. I said, inirerespeto ko, but there are times that… may panahon na… there’s always a time that the courts can function normally and maybe grant injunctions. But this time, I said they are put to notice.
“I will not obey the courts in the matter now of management the pandemic.
“I do not want anybody from any government agency or department messing up with a situation which I said is being managed because it’s very dangerous to the country.”
Matatandaang kamakailan, nanawagan ang Cebu local government unit na magsagawa ng testing sa mga biyahero pagdating sa airport. Kapag nagnegatibo ang resulta ng test, maaaring sumailalim sa home quarantine ang mga ito.
Taliwas ito sa national government protocols na kailangang sumailalim sa facility-based quarantine ang mga biyahero “upon arrival” at magsasagawa lamang ng RT-PCR test sa ika-pitong araw nila sa quarantine.
Ayon naman kay Health Secretary Duque, natatakot ang ilang health protocols implementor sa Cebu dahil sa pag-iisip na makasuhan sila kapag hindi nila sinunod ang provincial ordinance.
Saad pa ni Duque, “They (implementing units in the province of Cebu) have really raised the matter before the IATF for the last several days that they are really fearful of the consequences that they might be held to court or filed cases against if they do not follow the provincial ordinance and the executive order that was issued by Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia.”
Nilinaw naman ni P-Duterte na ang ordinansang ipinatutupad ng lokal na pamahalaan ay “Cannot be higher than a national policy which is the policies that we are briefing out.”
Saad pa ng pangulo, “I’m sorry but hindi lahat ng bagay, the courts can interfere.
"This is not a question of justice and inequity, this is a question of survival of the nation.
“I will not allow any court on that matter. I’m putting notice. Hindi ako susunod.”