MANILA, Philippines — “This is a small thing in our lives,” President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday during his pre-recorded briefing, as he assured Filipinos that they could eventually overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I will just say to my countrymen that do not despair. We can beat this COVID. This is a small thing in our lives,” Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino.
[Original quote in Filipino. Kaya natin itong COVID na ito. Maliit na bagay ito sa ating buhay.”]
“We have been through a lot of things that are more serious, more difficult, and made us cry more,” he added.
Duterte said this as the Philippines was being threatened by another spike in COVID-19 case…
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