Groups oppose quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — Several left-leaning groups criticized the imposition of a community quarantine in Metro Manila, saying it is a militaristic approach in addressing a health emergency.

Partido ng Manggagawa chair Rene Magtubo said in a statement that the scheme does not provide any guarantee of protection for workers’ welfare and civil liberties.

“Freedom of assembly should not be sacrificed since community organizations and civil society groups should be able to meet and deliberate on urgent matters, including a proper COVID response,” he noted. 

He also said that instead of mobilizing public and private health personnel to combat the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), “all we heard is the mobilization of police and soldiers.”

Magtubo is also worried about workers who are not issued IDs by their companies and those of the informal work sector, like street vendors, as they may no longer be able to earn a living.

The fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) said the imposition of community quarantine only created panic among the people who went on a buying binge to stock up on their needed supplies.

“Instead of focusing on the efficient management of infected patients and on how to mobilize and strengthen the capacity of our health workers, Duterte resorts to deployment of troops. Military and police have nothing to do with the prevention of the virus, rather, it amplifies tension and affect the livelihood of poor sectors, economy and even supply of food and other basic necessities,” said Fernando Hicap, the group’s chairman.

A former Anakpawis Party-list representative, Hicap said the President “did not even present a comprehensive solution on how to cure the patients already positive with the virus and those that are still under investigation.” – With Michelle Zoleta, Rhodina Villanueva