Coronavirus a ‘test of competence’ for Philippine government, says Duterte critic Maria Ressa

Name: Hundreds stranded at Manila airport as Philippines returns to Covid-19 lockdown
Uploaded: 2020-08-10T13:56:21.000Z
Duration: 3 min 13 s
Description: Hundreds stranded at Manila airport as Philippines returns to Covid-19 lockdown

Duterte’s administration is dividing society by ‘demonising’ journalists and opposition politicians instead of focusing on containing Covid-19, Ressa says

The Philippines has the highest number of coronavirus infections in Southeast Asia, with cases approaching 140,000

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Philippine journalist Maria Ressa. Photo: Rappler/AFP

Kyodo

Published: 9:56pm, 10 Aug 2020Updated: 5:26pm, 12 Aug 2020

The Philippine government’s priorities “have not focused enough” on containing the coronavirus pandemic, prominent journalist Maria Ressa has said, as the number of infections nears 140,000.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has launched attacks on politicians and journalists, leading to a divided society, Ressa told Kyodo News in an interview.

“It sees the problem by dividing society, by demonising people,” Ressa said. “Journalists are demonised. Opposition politicians are demonised.”

The CEO of news website Rappler also noted that Duterte had relied on retired military generals in the country’s battle against the pandemic, and urged the administration to look beyond loyalty to defeat the virus.

“Instead of dividing, unite, because in order to deal with a virus, you’re going to need a whole-of-society approach,” Ressa said. “This requires real leadership, not demonisation, not consolidation of political power. This is leadership to bring everyone together so that we can actually move in the same direction.”

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Hundreds stranded at Manila airport as Philippines returns to Covid-19 lockdown

The Philippines has the highest number of coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia, with cases approaching 140,000 as of Tuesday, and the death toll reaching 2,312.

Ressa said if the Duterte administration does not deal with the virus using the “3Ts” formula of testing, tracing and treating, then the country would not be able to contain the virus or save lives.