DOH alarmed over Marcos-Duterte ‘overcrowded’ event in Nueva Ecija

The Department of Health (DOH) has expressed concern over the political event staged by some candidates in the 2022 national elections in one province, which could still be the source of the deadly COVID-19 infection.

This was said by Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, Monday, after thousands of supporters of the tandem of presidential and vice-presidential aspirants Bongbong Marcos and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte gathered in the said province this Sunday.

ADVERTISEMENT

“[The Department of the Interior and Local Government] also mentioned na bawal ang mga ganitong political campaigns dahil it causes po overcrowding and it might be a source of infections in the coming days,” said Vergeire.

“Kaya kami po, nananawagan kami uli, sa atin mga opisyales, sa atin pong mga kumakandidato para sa darating na eleksyon, sana po ‘wag ho tayong mag-hold ng mga gatherings o mga events na alam natin that will cause overcrowding. And this might cause [COVID-19] infections in the coming days or weeks.”

The photos that spread this weekend show Bongbong, the son of the late dictator and former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., not even wearing a face mask while facing a host of loyalists.

ADVERTISEMENT

All this is happening now that the whole of the Philippines is on Alert Level 2.

DOH alarmed over Marcos-Duterte ‘overcrowded’ event in Nueva Ecija

COVID-19 had previously targeted Marcos, a senator, and lost the vice president in the 2016 national elections. Inday Sara recently had COVID-19.

“Actually we heard the Commission on Elections also last week stating  na sila ay magbibigay din ng mga paalala sa ating mga kandidato ukol dito sa mga overcrowding na nangyayari,” Vergeire added.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Parating po ang Pasko ngayon so sana po mapanatili po nating mababa ang ating mga kaso para naman po magkaroon tayo ng masayang Pasko para sa buong Pilipinas.”

Last month, Commission on Elections (Comelec) said health and safety protocol violations committed during campaign activities in the 2022 elections are considered election offenses.

The campaign period for the national posts begins February 8, 2022, and will last until May 7, 2022. For local posts candidates, the campaign period will be from March 25, 2022, to May 7, 2022.

Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.