MANILA, Philippines —President Rodrigo Duterte has insisted that the government’s response to the COVID-19 threat was neither slow nor lacking, disputing accusations that he was responsible for the country’s dire situation.
During his speech on Thursday, Duterte debunked claims from the opposition that his hesitancy in enforcing travel bans and dealing with the outbreak were the reasons for the surge in cases which ultimately caused an economic crisis and thousands of deaths.
Brazil — a country that was severely affected by the pandemic — was the President’s focus when he reflected on the steps his administration took in 2020.
“Gaya sa Brazil, bakit sila nagkagan…
Keep on reading: Duterte insists: We weren’t slow to respond to COVID-19 threat in 2020