MANILA, Philippines—The year 2020 is one for the books mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic which placed government efforts under tight public scrutiny, especially on President Rodrigo Duterte’s response to the health crisis.
Since mid-March, when the government announced one of the world’s longest and strictest lockdowns, Duterte has been regularly delivering speeches to update the public of the government’s fight against the disease. As in his usual extemporaneous public remarks, the popular leader’s pandemic speeches aren’t lacking in controversies.
People who watched Duterte’s speeches may recall how his banter against COVID-19 has evolved from anger to dismissive statements, …
Keep on reading: 2020: Pandemic rewrites gov’t plans, Duterte routine