BAYAN Muna Representative Ferdinand Gaite criticized the Philippine National Police over the deployment of cops who turned out to be COVID-19 positive during Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address on Monday.
QCPD Director PBGen. Antonio Yarra disclosed in his presscon earlier that 51 police personnel who were deployed at the rally site during SONA tested positive.
“Sa kagustuhan ng pamahalaang ito na hadlangan ang pag-exercise ng mamamayan sa kanilang kalayaan na mag-protesta at singilin ang pamahalaan, kahit mga dapat ay naka-isolate na infected policemen ay idineploy nila. Panay ang babala nila sa mga gustong lumahok sa rally eh sila pala ang numero unong super spreaders. Iyan ang malinaw na labag sa batas, sa R.A. 11332, which they very often use wrongly against civilians, dahil sa kasong ito malinaw na suspected carriers ng virus itong mga pulis na ito pero dineploy pa rin nila. They should have been isolated pending results of their tests pero dineploy nila para maghasik ng infection. It’s almost like biological warfare against protesters eh,” said Gaite.
“Heads must roll. Hindi na nga dapat nila hinarangan ang rally dahil may napagkaisahan na ang LGU at organizers na rally site. Not only did they block the march, they blocked it with virus-carrying cops,” Gaite added.
“Nararapat lang din na ma-isolate at magamot ang mga super spreader cops na ngpositibo sa covid. Dapat ding magconduct ng mass testing at contact tracing sa mga presintong kinabibilangan nila at sa mga PDL din.” according to Gabriela Partylist Representative France Castro.