PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE: Allow me to greet the Filipino people na sana lahat tayo ay nasa mabuting sitwasyon sa kamay ng Diyos at we continue to exist nowadays — not live but exist because we are fighting a deadly enemy.

Ang COVID virus is still around and the reason why is there is less ratio and proportion between other countries mababa talaga tayo. You should know that. And huwag ho sana kayong maniwala diyan sa mga dilawan, opposition, na hampas dito, hampas doon, kung anong pinagsasabi.

For as long as the virus lives in this planet, we are put in real danger. Kaya ho kayo naman kung maniwala kayo, you get to be despondent or — well, ano sa buhay put more stress. Huwag ho kayong maniwala dito lang.

Kami dito lahat Senator Go, Secretary Galvez, Secretary Roque, Secretary Lorenzana, Secretary Año, we are not here, we did not join government to lie. We do not have any obligation at all to lie.

Bakit kami magsinungaling na hindi namin trabaho ‘yan at hindi naman kami pumasok sa trabaho para ‘yan lang magsinungaling? Maski Grade 1, Grade 2 alam na namin kung ano ang pagmamahal sa bayan.

So I hope that everybody would listen to reason. Makinig kayo sa rason. Huwag ‘yang basta na lang maniwala ka na ganito, ganito. Eh ganun talaga. Now, sabihin ninyo lumaki ngayon. Well because nga noon sinira natin lahat, we thought that we had everybody covered by staying inside the house. [I’d like to welcome Secretary Duque.] Sabi ko protected sana tayo but — lahat.

Ngayon kung may sipon ka tapos maglakay ka, maski sino ipasa mo, hindi mo akalain driver lang nga ang nagpasa sa iyo. Eh nagko-commute ‘yan tapos sa jeep humahatsing, tapos ‘yung droplets flying all over. Pagdating doon sa inyo mag-drive. Eh ganun ‘yan matamaan ka, tapos sabihin mo mayaman naman ako, malinis ako, puro alcohol. Ah ganun? Mas lalo ka. Kung ‘yan ang rason mo sa hindi ka tatamaan kasi mayabang ka, eh bahala ka sa buhay mo.

Pero ‘yung mga alam mo na ‘yung mga — ‘yung kinakausap ko lang ‘yung ka-level ko, ‘yung nakakaintindi ng rason and who would listen to us and do the things that we want them to do, ‘yan ang medyo malibre.

We cannot be complacent. I said by December there will be some I think trials. Now, ganito ha, if the vaccine of Russia and China are equally good and effective, just like any other vaccine invented by any country, I will buy first. But then alam mo I hope that the Chinese and Russian government that when we buy, we have to go into a bidding. So the Russian and the pharmaceutical companies of China can very well join us.

Sinabi ko ‘yan kasi noong naghirap tayo and there was nothing at all in sight, sa paningin natin we were aimlessly — para tayong barko namatayan ng makina. So we were drifting in a seashore tapos dumating itong bagyo. Walang ibang bayan na tumulong sa atin.

But the only country that offered to help initially and said, “Do not worry when we invent one, we’d give you” was Russia then China. China naman, the one good thing about China is you do not have to beg, you do not have to plead. Like in other countries, they want cash advance bago tayo deliver-an ng vaccine. Eh kung ganun, patay tayong lahat. Every Filipino will die I can assure you.

Why? Kung wala tayong ibigay sa kanila cash advance, eh di walang vaccine. Eh walang vaccine, di maghalikan na lang tayong lahat para mas madali. That’s I said one wrong with — one thing wrong with the — itong Western companies.

Kaya sabi ko we will give preference to Russia and China provided that their vaccine is as good as any other in the market. It could be as good as ‘yung mga kompanyang sinabi nila, hindi ko sasabihin baka naman magpa-pa-advertise sila.

That’s one thing wrong about the Western countries — it’s all profit, profit, profit. There’s a pandemic and you say that, “Okay we have the — we have something for sale or something to sell to you.” And marinig mo, maligaya ka only to be — only to collapse when the next sentence is said “pero magbayad kayo ng cash advance bago kami magpadala.”

Hindi pa nga eh. Eh nagkamali ako wala pa. Now they are asking for parang reservation fee. Wala pa sila. Sabi nila ‘pag naimbento na ito o natapos na namin ‘yung trials — but anyway it’s really — they are really on the advanced stage of the clinical trials.

Pero kung sabihin mo na sige wala pa ‘yung vaccine, there is nothing with finality, and you want us to make a reservation by depositing money, you must be crazy. Hindi ako mag… Bakit ako magbili ng ganung style? Because the Procurement Law of the Philippines, this country, does not allow you to buy something which is non-existence or to be produced as yet.

It’s a very exacting law and you must always reckon with, you know, prosecution and going to jail. At bakit ka naman…? So iyan ang… Bakit ka naman magbayad na wala diyan? Now talagang…

If the companies are here or representatives, mag-uwi na kayo sa inyo. ‘Pag hindi, sipain ko kayo kung makita ko kayo diyan sa ano. If I happened to have dinner outside and see you somewhere in the hotels, I’ll kick your ass. Babastusin ko kayo. Umuwi kayo doon sa inyo, mag-yawyaw (nag) kayo.

Mga buang. Bisaya naman na ang binuang. Ilad. Aw ‘di man nuon ilad kay naay gina-produce pero i-produce pa niya. (You guys are crazy. It’s a Bisaya term. A scam. Well, it’s not a scam because they are going to produce something but they have yet to produce it.)  So actually, at the end of the day what happens is that they want you to finance their research and the perfection of the vaccine.

Kita’y mugasto sa ilang pag-imbento ug pagtrabaho sa ilang vaccine. Mupalit unya ko sa ila, itusok nako ang vaccine sa ilang utok kay mga g*** ang mga buang. (They want us to finance their experiment and the development of their vaccine. I will buy the vaccine from them and inject it into their brains because they are crazy.) Better get out of this country, we don’t need you.

Well, there are so many things again to discuss. Maybe Secretary Duque would want to take the first slot.

DOH SECRETARY FRANCISCO DUQUE III: Allow me to present once again the updates on COVID-19 ngayon pong nakaraang linggo.

As of September 14, may nadagdag na mahigit 3,000 kaso, mga 4,699 new cases. Sa nadagdag na 4,699 cases, 4,090 are fresh cases at 600 ay late cases.

Sa 4,090 fresh cases na naitala, 1,102 ay mula sa NCR; 830 sa Region IV-A; 486 sa Region III; 127 sa Region VI; at 1,545 sa mga natitirang rehiyon. Sa 609 late cases naman, 396 ay mula po sa NCR at 106 sa Region IV-A; 31 sa Region III; 22 sa Region IV-B; at 54 sa mga natitirang rehiyon.

May bagong naitalang higit 200 na binawian ng buhay at ang ating case fatality rate ngayon ay bahagyang tumaas to 1.7 percent. Nakapagtala naman tayo ng mahigit 20,000 recoveries kahapon, mataas po ito, 392 from reports at 20,080 time-based recoveries at dalawang daan at apatnapu’t siyam or 249 na recoveries for today. Ang ating total recoveries ay pumalo na sa 184,906, Mr. President. Ang active cases naman ay 53,754. Sa mga ito, 4,402 or 8.19 percent ay mga asymptomatic at 47,526 or 89 percent ay mild cases.

Patuloy po ang pababa ng trend ng confirmed COVID-19 cases sa ating mga health workers. Mula sa 23 percent — napakataas po noong Abril na hindi po tayo nakapaghanda o kulang po ang ating kahandaan noong mga panahong iyon — ngayon po ay nasa 3.1 percent ng total cases na lamang ang ating rate of infection among healthcare workers.

Sa nakalipas na linggo, ang atin pong moving average para sa mga naisasagawang test ng ating laboratories ay nasa 36,922. Ang ating daily output naman po for the past week ay umabot na ng mahigit 30,000 tests per day. Ang ating daily testing output ay pinakamataas po ay naabot natin last Friday, September 11, umabot po ng 42,258 tests ang naisagawa. Ito po ang pinakamataas na naitala sa isang araw mula noong nagsimula tayong magsagawa ng tests sa bansa.

As of September 12, nakapag-conduct po tayo ng 3,086,213 total tests. Sa mga ito, 306,756 ang nagpositibo at ang ating cumulative positivity rate ay 10.6 percent.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Salamat, Secretary Duque. It was a very informative one. But what struck my attention was ito sanang appeal to private hospitals to increase the number of beds dedicated to COVID patients. Kung sana ho madagdagan ninyo. You are only about 12, I think?

SEC. DUQUE: Yes, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Twelve lang of the 7,087 — ang COVID beds is 19 comprised of 12.  Madagdagan lang ho sana ninyo because still the numbers are increasing. The infections vary. In some cases and in some provinces or cities there’s a fast recovery rate while others are lagging behind and probably this is because of the ‘yung prior infection na hindi na-detect during the height of the pandemic.

So mayroon pa hong naiwan. Baka ho kayo makatulong talaga sa bayan. I am appealing this for the country and for the people. Alam naman ninyo na hindi lang tayo ang tinamaan so your help will go a long way to reme — maybe remember… Everybody will remember someday that there was this great epidemic that passed by our lives and we were able to deal it with a lot of mutual help and pagtulong ng kababayan. Thank you.

Secretary Año, if you have anything to report, we are ready to listen to you.

DILG SECRETARY EDUARDO AÑO: Maraming salamat po, Mahal na Pangulo. Nais ko lamang pong i-report ‘yung mga status po noong cases na ating iniimbestigahan dahil po dito sa anomalies sa SAP. Sa atin pong administrative cases, 357 cases po ang iniimbestigahan against 416 barangay officials at 93 po ay nai-submit na natin sa Ombudsman.

At magandang balita nga po, last week po ay 89 na barangay captain ang pinatawan ng preventive suspension for six months. So ito po ay magandang example po para maipakita na talagang hindi po natin [inaudible] ang ating tinatawag na korapsyon. Sa criminal cases naman po ay 259 cases na po ang na-file natin sa prosecutor para po sila ay managot sa batas natin.

Pangalawa po, nais kong magpasalamat sa inyong paglagda sa Bayanihan to Recover as One or Bayanihan 2 RA 11494. Nabigyan po ng pondo ang DILG ng 5 billion para po mag-hire ng 50,000 contact tracers at ito po ay ibibigay natin sa lahat ng mga rehiyon. Ang pinakamataas po na binigyan natin dahil sa kanilang pangangailangan ang National Capital Region na mayroong 9,600; ang Region III po na mayroong 5,992; at ang CALABARZON na may 5,810.

At bibigyan po natin ng priority na ma-employ ang mga qualified na OFWs po na nakabalik sa atin pati na rin po ‘yung mga displaced workers natin na nawalan ng trabaho pero qualified naman po ay gagawin nating contact tracer. Sila po ay ite-train natin at ipadadala sa mga mas nangangailangang lugar.

So iyon lamang po ang maiuulat ko at maraming salamat po sa inyong paglagda sa ating Bayanihan 2, Mahal na Pangulo.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Thank you, Secretary Año. Can we hear Secretary Lorenzana now?

DND SECRETARY DELFIN LORENZANA: Good evening, Mr. President. Maiksing ulat lang po ito doon sa ating isang importanteng pinagkakaabalahan natin ‘yung pagpapauwi ng mga OFWs at saka ‘yung ating mga kababayang nasa Sabah.

As of yesterday po, mayroon ng 200,431 na napauwing mga OFWs mula sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo.

Ayon kay Secretary Bello, mayroon pa tayong inaasahang 80,000 na uuwi ngayong taon na ‘to. So iyon po ang ating pagkakaabalahan din.

Iyan pong galing sa Sabah, ‘yon pong panlimang batch na galing sa Sabah ay darating sa Lunes — 400 po ito. Kapag dumating po iyon na mayroon ng mga 2,000 na dumating, mayroon pa tayong 3,000 na nandoon naghihintay po ng — ng tulong para umuwi dito sa atin.

Iyon lang po, Mahal na Pangulo.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Thank you, Secretary Lorenzana. Mayroon akong — just a food for thought for everybody. Now, in the so many places around the world where Filipinos are working — are there, some are still in the limbo. Hindi nila alam kung saan sila pupunta and makauwi pa ba sila o hindi.

There are Filipinos who are — itong mga sea — seafarers, karamihan nito na-stranded, naiwan sa barko and they were not allowed to dock or mag — magdiskarga ng intended cargoes nila for a — a certain destination because of COVID. And they were contaminated and some who were not escaped and others just stayed in the ships and just bear it all. Ito ‘yung mga Pilipino na minsan may nabasa ako, two years, three years na nasa labas, hindi makauwi.

Now, I would like to direct the Foreign Affairs Department, ‘yung mga commercial attaché natin and even the police — we have police and military guys who are assigned in the different embassies, kindly check and do a — a validation report kung mayroon bang mga Pilipino na na-stranded sa inyong lugar, in the area of your responsibility in other countries where you are assigned.

I’d like you to check kung — go around if there are Filipinos who are stranded in the different ships who are at — nasa dagat. Hindi ‘yan sila sa port. They are not — I forgot the term of… They have not been able to dock at bumaba. There — itinaboy sila, sa Tagalog, itinaboy sila at they are floating just like a flotsam. Floating without really knowing what — what is tomorrow for them.

So nakaawa naman ito and it pains me to realize that nandito ako and I cannot help Filipinos who are struggling even just to exist and not live. They are — you live one day at a time doon.

Kindly check on this and maybe we can also request the — your corresponding requests to the emba — to the government, itong government ninyo pakigawa na lang that all you can, whatever that effort is, try to just go out and help the Filipinos sana.

Nakakaawa and a human being should never, never be a commodity that is just left behind to rot. These are human beings and Filipinos, both on the southern backdoor or kung dito sa ano.

Now, I am happy to hear from Secretary Galvez that they are coming home, some of them are from Sabah. Iyon, malamang doon din even the issue of hospital care. That has been a very ticklish issue between our government. And we are — we are trying our best to appeal to the humanitarian sense of the Malaysian government to please help our citizens in your country, as we would — as we would do for your citizens if they are in our country.

Sunod nito is Secretary Galvez.

PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON PEACE PROCESS AND NTF COVID19 CHIEF IMPLEMENTER CARLITO GALVEZ JR.: Sir, in addition, sir on the ano — on the presentation of Secretary Duque. Magbibigay lang po ako ng ulat sa ating Oplan Kalinga, ‘yung mga ginagawa po natin na aggressive isolations po ng mga positive cases lalo na po sir sa mga bahayan na hindi po kaya po ‘yung mga magkaroon po ng home quarantine.

Sa kabuuan po mayroon na po tayong 79 hotels sa ating imbentaryo na may 7,114 beds na maaaring gamitin para sa isolation.

At nagpapasalamat po kami sa inyo po, Mr. President, dahil sa Bayanihan 2 mayroon po tayong naka-allocate na 4.5 billion para sa pag — sa pagpapatayo at saka paggamit po sa mga hotels na ito na nakita po namin matutulungan po na mayroon po tayong naka-allocate na 128,000 na possible positive cases na puwede po nating ilagay sa mga hotel. Kinompute (compute) po namin po ito na lahat po nito magkakaroon ng 14-day quarantine po sa hotel.

And then ngayon po sa ating mga treatment, ongoing po ang construction ng DPWH sa pamumuno po ni Sec. Mark Villar at Usec. Sadain. Mayroon po tayong 1,006 na additional COVID dedicated hospital beds by November 2020.

So talaga pong pinapabilisan po ang mga construction po nito. At ‘yung East Avenue Medical Center, ‘yung 250 na dedicated beds for COVID ay nai-turnover na po at nagbigay po ng more or less seven — 47 million si Mr. Manny Pangilinan para po mabigyan po ng ano — ng mga equipment ‘yung ano po — nai-turnover po ‘yon sa — noong last week po at kasama po kami ni Sec. — sa East Avenue po, nai-turnover po ‘yon. Na ibinigay po ‘yung ano ‘yung mga equipment dahil 250 po na additional po ‘yon na — na beds po ‘yon kasama po ang more or less 25 na ICU beds.

And then nagko-construct din po tayo ng 20 — 200 beds sa Rizal Medical Center at mayroon din po tayong ginagawa sa UP-Philippine General Hospital at ang — pati po ‘yung Batangas Medical Center.

At ang ating ano po — ang ating Bayanihan 2 Recover as One ay nag-allocate din po ng 4.5 na pagpapatayo po ng medi — medical — medical isolation and quarantine facilities, mga field hospitals, dormitories for frontliners para po pagpapalawig sa kapasidad ng ating ospital sa gobyerno at sa buong bansa.

At tinitingnan din po natin kasi sa ngayon po, Mr. President, kahit po ‘yung ano ‘yung non-COVID cases po tinitingnan din po natin. Ayon po sa datos, mayroon po tayong top 10 na leading causes of death in the Philippines. At nakita po natin dito ‘yung heart disease, ‘yung cancer, chronic respiratory at saka diabetes.

So ‘yon po pinagpaplanuhan po namin nila Usec. Vega dahil po sa ating datos noong March at saka April, times four po ang casualty po natin sa mga non-COVID cases. Kaya ang ginagawa po natin sa istratehiya po natin ay pinalalakas din po natin ang preparation po natin sa mga renal patients.

Katulad ng ginawa po natin sa Cebu nagpatayo po tayo ng 20 na machines doon po sa ano — sa Cebu at mabibigyan po ng license to operate na po ‘yung — ‘yung 20 renal machines na puwede pong magamit. At sinabi nga po ni Mayor Labella na more than 1,600 po na renal patients po ang — ang puwede pong gumamit doon.

So ito po ang tinitingnan po natin talaga na nakita po natin na dapat po talaga, Mahal na Presidente, palakasin po natin talaga ang mga hospital natin po na mga nakatutok po dito sa ano sa mga tinatawag nating 10 leading causes of death para po maging prepared po din tayo na ‘yung mga non-COVID cases ay maalalayan din po natin. Kasi lalo na po ngayon na talagang sa hirap po ng — ‘yung mga pasyente natatakot ay talagang napakahirap po na pumunta sa ospital.

Maganda po ang ginawa po sa Davao nung si Mayor Sara nagkaroon po siya ng desisyon na iba po ‘yung COVID cases at saka ‘yung sa non-COVID. So ‘yung sa Southern Philippines Medical Center na 1,500 bed po ‘yon.

Mahal na Pangulo, maganda po makapagpagawa po tayo ng ganoong klase na mga ospital sa iba-ibang mga main island po kasi nakikita po natin kumpleto po ‘yon, mayroon pong Kidney Institute, mayroong Cancer Institute, mayroon pong ano po…

Kailangan po talaga — ako po, Mr. President, on my personal opinion — kailangan na po nating i-modernize ang ating healthcare system. Matagal na pong napabayaan po ‘yung ano, ‘yung ating healthcare system kaya po ito po nakikita po natin na malaki ang gap ngayon nating hinaharap. At lumalapit po ako kay Senator Bong Go na talagang i-push po sa Senado na i-modernize po natin ang DOH. High time po na i-modernize po natin kasi katulad po ng — ng Lung Center, may biruan pa nga doon na ‘yung Lung Center is iisa lang po ‘yung baga kasi ‘yung isang — isang ano, ‘yung isang annex hindi po nagagawa.

So we need to ano — we need to — to modernize our special hospitals considering ito po talaga nakikita natin sa datos po na number of death every year tumataas po, mas mataas pa po sa COVID.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Salamat ho, Mahal na Secretary. Mahal mo ako, mahal rin kita. Eh iyan ang ano sa Tagalog, that’s a peculiar — it’s not a — ang mga Bisaya hindi masyado na ano but mga Tagalog ganun. So I asked you before kayong lahat na huwag gamitin sa akin ‘yan and you just address me as “Mayor” para mas madali, ‘yung freewheeling tayo. When you say mayor hindi masyadong mabigat sa dila ‘yang lalo na ‘yung presidente na hindi nakikinig.

There was this Tokyo film, short, using contrivances na makikita mo ang ano in the dark. Iyong paano pag-ubo ‘yung tao [coughs] tapos ‘yung makita mo ‘yung — iyong droplets nga tawag nila, nag-i-spread. It’s about six feet tapos more in a — kung walang ventilation, ‘yon mas grabe.

So it reminded me when I was reading the letter of pana — Dr. Panaligan, that — that short clip or film that shown by the Japanese. Eh kung maaari hiraman ko lang siguro. Secretary Duque, can you make representations with the Japanese government? The Embassy.

SEC. DUQUE: Yes, Mr. President. I’ll do that tomorrow.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Hiraman ko lang. Hiraman natin for our added information. That’s all.

SEC. DUQUE: Yes, Mr. President. And if you don’t mind, Mr. President na — [tanggalin ko lang po ito] — pinadala din po sa akin ‘yung — baka napadala din po sa inyo ng Health Professionals Alliance Against COVID? Sila Panaligan po ‘yan eh, Dr. Panaligan, presidente ng Philippine College of Physicians, Mr. President.

Sinasabi nila kung babawasan ‘yung isang metro to 0.75 meters — from one meter to 0.75, and at a 50 percent ridership, in other words, ang pasasakayin singkuwenta porsyento ng population ‘no dito sa NCR — ang death rate natin, new cases everyday will reach 686 per day. So if you multiply that by 30 days, you will have about 20,580 cases, ito po per day po ‘yan.

So iyan po ang bagong kaso. If you multiply that by 1.6 which is our case fatality rate, meaning the number of deaths over the number of total infection, ang lalabas po rito will be 3,951 deaths per year.

So iyan po ‘yung bukas sasabihin ko sa IATF, na based po sa pag-aaral nitong AIM and HPAAC and — which consists of about 148 medical professional societies. Para cuentas claras ho. So whatever decision is made at least malinaw na mayroon pong ganitong pag-aaral or modelling kung tawagin po at mayroon din po naman palagay ko ho na mga iba na magpapakita din ng mga ibang pag-aaral naman na hindi po ganito kalala o kagrabe ang kanila pong projection.

So bukas po malalaman po ito and we will give the recommendation, Mr. President, thank you.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes, Secretary Roque.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON HARRY ROQUE: Yes, sir. Natanong po sa akin kanina ‘yan and I have to say bagama’t marami akong issue na hinaharap. Medyo mahirap po ito kasi parang ang lumabas sa publiko, nagbanggaan po ‘yung dalawang higante sa Gabinete. [laughter]

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Kaya mo ‘yan. Kaya kita kinuha eh.

SEC. ROQUE: Tugade and — and the Health Department ‘no pinagsasabong silang dalawa. So ang ginawa ko po pumagitna na lang ako at ang sabi ko in the end, si Presidente ang magde-decide po diyan so — at nakabase po ‘yan sa datos. Iyan po ‘yung sinabi ko kanina.

Pero ang nais ko lang pong sabihin ngayon, dalawa talaga ‘yung mga pag-aaral. May mga modelling na ginagawa ang mga doktor na sinasabing delikado pero may pag-aaral naman ‘yung mga transport sector na nagpapakita na with face shield and maskara, minimum naman daw ho ‘yung — ‘yung danger.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Totoo. I — I agree with you.

SEC. ROQUE: So ang sabi ko na lang po kanina eh, anyway hindi pa naman nasa-submit sa inyo ‘yan, titingnan ni Presidente ‘yung scientific data at from there magdedesisyon.

So actually iyon po ‘yung naging posisyon ko ngayon dahil dalawang departmento iba ‘yung posisyon nila. Pero in fairness din Secretary Duque, ang sabi naman ng DOTr kasi noong in-approve (approve) natin sa IATF, hindi naman nag-object ‘yung mga taga DOF — mga DOH.

SEC. DUQUE: No, wala ako, wala ako, paano ko mag…? I was not there.

SEC. ROQUE: Oo nga pero may mga tao po kayo doon eh. Kaya sabi naman ng DOTr — in fairness lang po ‘no kasi it was really approved by the IATF pero wala naman objection ‘yung DOH. At nandoon din ako sa meeting wala rin akong narinig na objection ‘no. So anyway, two sets of scientific studies po ang ibinibigay nila eh. So in the end po kayo ang magde-decide.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: You know, you have to take into account physics. It’s an everyday equation for — for humanity, civilization, physics.

Ang problema kasi nitong sabi na a shield, it’s a — we are talking of direct transmission, ‘yung there is a continuous and no gaps na papasok sa — tatama sa shield.

But if you are riding in a bus na aircon or open, ang — ang shield kasi would only protect you from a direct hit. But ‘yung pag-ubo ng tao [coughs] tapos ‘yung hangin sa — you know ‘yung sa bus ‘pag pumasok na ‘yung hangin dito — because the wind will guide the — kung saan ‘yung virus. ‘Pag dito siya dumaan, madala niya. But somehow, that — itong face na ito, I think it’s a fallacy to say na it will protect you from — in every environment.

Kasi pagkatapos niyan ang hangin dumadaan rin sa  — anywhere. It could be the aircon coming from the second seat would bring the — ‘yung hangin papunta doon sa likod. Ah hindi naman ma — that cannot be stopped by a shield. Maybe, ang mask talaga.

Yes, Secretary Galvez.

SEC. GALVEZ: Sir, I believe it is a matter of risk management po, sir. Kasi ano po sir, sa lahat po ng ano na lahat po ng ginagawa natin, lahat po ‘yan may risk. If we ano — if we reduce the ano sir, the one meter ano sir, to 0.75, mayroon na po tayong gagawing ano po sir eh, tinatawag nating risk mitigation.
One of those is ‘yung proper ventilation, meaning ‘yung ano po sir, dapat nagsi-circulate ‘yung hangin. And normally ‘yung MRT natin at saka mga ating mga ano po mass transport, ginagawa po, sini-simulate po ni DOTr po ‘yan. Nag-uusap-usap po kami na talagang bago po patakbuhin ‘yung ano ‘yung isang transport ano po, mayroon na pong ginagawa silang mga mitigation process.

Kasama rin po ‘yung tinatawag natin na ano sir ‘yung avoiding ng crowding at the same time kasi ‘yung ano talaga ‘yung pinakaimportante talaga sir ‘yung tatlong — three C: avoid crowding, ‘yung close contact, at saka ‘yung confined spaces.

And may mga instances po talaga na hindi natin talaga ma-ano eh, ma-ano talaga ‘yung 100 percent na ‘yung one meter. Nakikita po naman natin na ‘yung with the ano — with the protections ng with mask and face shield at saka importante po sir, ‘yung ano sir, no talking. Kasi pagka no talking, no droplet. No ano sir talaga ‘yan. So ‘yon ang pinaka-ano po natin sa ano sa transport na during ano, during ano po, no talking, no eating, at saka no using of cellphone.

So nakikita po natin sa ibang mga ano nag-e-evolve po ‘yung ano eh, ‘yung ibang mga countries. And I think baka mamaya tayo na lang po ang country ang masyadong very stringent sa one meter.

Kasi po ‘yung iba po nakita po sa picture I  think Japan talagang dikit-dikit na po eh. Pero ang ano po nila is no talking. Talagang sasakay lang and then talagang no using of cellphone, no eating.

Ang pinaka-ano po talaga natin sa ano sir kung titignan niyo sa mga hospital, ang pinaka-vulnerable po hindi transport. Ang pinaka-vulnerable po bahay at saka sa community kasi tinatanggal po natin ang mask. When we are eating, when we are talking with our friends, when we are talking with our co-workers.

Ang pinaka-vulnerable po talaga na nakikita namin is ‘yung workplace, sa mga canteen, mga kantina po, at saka sa smoking places. Pero kung ‘yung mga shuttles at saka po ‘yung ano, mga transport, it will have a controlled ano po natin. Kailangan po talaga na ano talaga.

Kasi ‘yung ano po natin talaga, ang transport is a vehicle for ano eh, for recovery. Kung wala po talaga ‘yung ano — ‘yung ano ‘yung vehicles and also ‘yung ano po natin, ‘yung tinatawag po natin na ‘yung transportation, we cannot recover po, Mr. President.

At saka po ang nakikita po natin based doon sa study din, mas ano po mas delikado rin po ‘yung mga private cars dahil kasi air-conditioned po ang ginagamit.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ah oo. 

SEC. GALVEZ: Mas ano po mas delikado po based doon sa mga study na nabasa po namin.

Kasi tinitingnan po namin din ‘yung ano ‘yung pros and cons. Ang nakikita po natin kasi pagka masyado tayong… Ito sir, sa amin sir as a manager, as a system analyst na katulad po natin, hindi rin po maganda ‘yung risk aversion. Kasi pagka masyadong mag-risk averse po tayo sir, hindi tayo nag-aano eh.

Kailangan po, puwede lang ‘yung tinatawag natin sa system analysis magkaroon tayo ng simulation. So ginagawa naman po ni ano ni Secretary Tugade ‘yung mga simulations eh. Ginamit niya sa PNR ‘yung — Philippine National Railways — ginamit niya po ‘yung mga simulations na ‘yan. Kaya nga sa IATF natin, supposed to be 0.5. So i-simulate muna po ‘yon paunti-unti.

Basta ang pinaka-ano po talaga is ma-ano po talaga ‘yung standard na no talking, no eating, no removing of face mask, palagay ko po sir kaya po nating i-mitigate po.

Though ‘yung ano, ‘yung numbers po na ‘yon, ‘yung tinatanong nga po ni ano ni Secretary Dayrit na ‘yung 500 po na ‘yon ay sinasabi na ‘yung additional ano, wala silang reference. Kunyari, for example, ilan ba ang ano ang mai-infect kung one meter?

So hindi po natin nakita ‘yung increment between one meter at saka ‘yung 0.5. And we believe nakikita po rin natin na mare-reduce din po ‘yung ano ‘yung nakita namin sa aming operations — mare-reduce po ang ano ang ano po ang transmission po natin talaga kung magiging strict po tayo talaga na ‘yung lahat ng mga positive i-isolate po natin talaga pati po ‘yung first contact.

Iyon po ang nakita natin na ‘yung ano ‘yung transport po will become immaterial kasi pagka once na na-isolate po natin ang mga positive ay nakikita po natin magiging safe ang transport po natin.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, I would not be around when you meet to make the recommendation, correct? Ganito na lang. You in… Give me a sort of a — itong… I have here in my mga pointers kasi ‘yung talking points.

Iyong… The meter sa or the fraction of — fraction taken away from the one meter. Eh bigyan mo na lang ako niyan. Mas gusto ko ‘yung visual. Maintindihan ko kaagad para makuha ko rin and I can explain it — I can translate it into words kung ‘yung itong recommendation ninyo plus your narrative and the — maybe the others kung anong gusto nilang sabihin.

Give me just more — parang syllabus. Ano lang.

SEC. GALVEZ: Yes, sir. I will do it, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Secretary Año.

SEC. AÑO: Yes, sir. Kagabi po ay [inaudible] ng distace sa mga sasakyan sa mass transport dahil nga po [inaudible] ‘yung basis natin na one meter at ‘yung ating minimum health standard na one meter.

Iyong face shield at saka ‘yung ating mask talagang nagmi-mitigate lang siya pero ang pinakaimportante talaga ‘yung distansiya. Iyong doon sa proposal na 0.75 pagkatapos gagawin pang 0.50 tapos gagawin pang 0.3, medyo delikado na po ‘yon.

Sumasang-ayon ako doon sa ating mga health workers, health sectors na ito ay magsisimula na naman ng spike at parang roller coaster na babalik na naman tayo sa pinagmulan natin. Magiging ECQ na naman or sana po talaga ito ay masusing pag-aaralan at science-based. Talagang kailangan makinig tayo sa experts kasi wala pa naman talagang science na sinasabi na ‘pag nag-violate ka sa less than one meter kung ano ang mangyayari. Puro mga studies tapos speculations pero hindi po siya science-based.

So para po talagang wala nang madisgrasya pa na additional, sa amin pong meeting tomorrow ay papakinggan namin ‘yung argument ng health sector. Sisiguraduhin po namin na maayos po ang magiging presentation sa inyo kung ano po ang magiging desisyon ninyo later on, Mr. President. Iyon lang po.

Ang sa akin lang po ay pinapanigan ko sila Secretary Duque dahil mahirap po kasi nag-iingat po tayo sa panahon na ito tapos magsisisi uli tayo dahil maraming madidisgrasya na naman dahil sa pag-violate ng one meter distancing na sinusunod po natin itong minimum na ‘to sa lahat po — sa opisina, sa mall, sa bahay pero pagdating po sa sasakyan, biglang nawala na po ‘yung one meter.

At ito po sa ating close contact na tinatawag, definition, kapag po 15 minutes kang nakausap mo ‘yung isang positive at less than one meter, eh close contact ka na po. So magbabago na naman din ‘yung ating standards eh.

So kailangan po talaga dito ay consistent po tayo. Hindi lamang sa definition kung di sa kaligtasan ng lahat. Marami pong salamat, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Thank you. So there will be more talk about this matter when you meet on Wednesday?

OFFICIALS: Tomorrow po, tomorrow.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ah, mayroon akong… Ah, Wednesday ‘yung ano. I have a Wednesday meeting. But anyway, I will not be there. I will just rely on your report and recommendation.

But make the visual diagram for the — itong so many meters taken away from the one-meter distance that we have been imposing.

Sabi ko nga kay Bong na, “If I were you, you act as an opposition.” You should do better than the opposition para mawala ‘yung ano na you are trying to because of our relationship that you were my aide before that you tend to protect, ganun. Sabi ko, “Why don’t you be an opposition and try to look into all matters of corruption?” Iyon man ang battle cry natin and that is what we intend to do during my last two years.

So mayroon ako ditong report ngayon galing kay Secretary Guevarra na ‘to, from the task force that I commissioned to do the investigation. You know, itong investigation na ito was participated in by the COA and the Ombudsman so that we can move faster.

Iyong coercive powers kasi ng COA pati ano mas madali. Mga records man lang ‘yan. The Ombudsman will just try to do — to report what’s happening to the progress of the report and for him to act accordingly.

So dito, they recommended criminal and administrative ano dito. Basahin ko na lang. I’ll do it in a jiffy.

Liability — number eight of the report, page five of a — page five of six pages.

The totality of the evidence presented before the task force supports the honorable conclusion that wrongful acts or omissions on the part of certain key corporate officers of the PhilHealth have been committed.

A.) The negligence exhibited by certain officers of the PhilHealth executive committee gives rise to both administrative and criminal liability and the following laws are Republic Act No. 3019, it’s the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices law, the Penal Code — sa Revised Penal Code, the malversation of public funds or property and the illegal use of public funds and property, gross misconduct, gross neglect of duty under Civil Service rules.

In addition, the same corporate officers may be held liable for certain violation of the National Internal Revenue Code in connection with their failure to withhold taxes on IRM releases.

B.) While the board chairman and members exhibited negligence in several instances to it, their careless approval of ICT procurement, the ratification of the IRM — baka ito iyong advanced fund releases on March 2020 — and the consent of the modification of judgment in court adjudicated cases and negligence is somehow mitigated by the active concealment of vital documents and information on the apparent misrepresentation by those who had sought the board’s approval.

C.) The foregoing notwithstanding the task force recommends that the President strongly admonish and remind the chairman and members of the board of a grave consequence of their action or inaction to PhilHealth fund to the government and its coffers and to the interest of the ordinary people who rely on PhilHealth assistance.

Specific recommendations to the President considering — considering thus in view of all of the foregoing the filing of criminal charges against the following person is hereby recommended in relation to various ICT procurement including the concealment of important information in relation thereto, violation of Section 3(a) RA No. — I read that’s a, the Anti-Graft 3019, against Vice President… [Ano ba itong “S”?] [Officials: Senior] Ah senior. Vice President Senior Aragona, OIC Gabuya and Division Chief Crisostomo.

Second, violation of Section 3(e) of RA No. 3019, again this is the Anti-Graft Law, against PCEO Morales, SVP Aragona and OIC Gabuya.

Third violation of Section 3 (g) of RA 3019, again, another provision of the Republic Act, this is known as the Anti-Graft Law. [Mahina ang mata ko, pasensiya kayo.] The violation of — maliliit kasi, hindi ko — violation of Section 3(g) against PCEO Morales, SVP Aragona, OIC Gabuya and PRO-NCR personnel and… Karami pala nito.

Article 213 of the R — Revised Penal Code against PCEO Morales, SVP Aragona, and Gabuya.

In relation to the disbursement of IRM funds prior to the effectivity of the pertinent circular malversation of public funds or property under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code against PCEO Morales and SVP Limsiaco.

Second is the violation of 3(a) of RA 3019 against PCEO Morales, and EVP COO Doctor — ah no, not doctor, sorry — De Jesus, Senior Vice President Limsiaco and Senior Vice President Pargas.

In relation to the release of RM — IRM funds despite the lack of sufficient standards of implementation again, charges, violation of Section 3(a) again of the Anti-Graft Law against SVP Pargas.

In relation to the non-withholding taxes of the IRM fund disbursement, in violation of Section 251, 255, and 272 of the NIRC as well as the violation of RA 1061 against PCEO Morales and SVP Limsiaco and violation of Section 258 — rather 256 [I’m sorry my eyes  — my eyes are failing me] — of the NIRC against PhilHealth and Corporation.

The filing ad — the filing of administrative charges against the following persons in relation to the above described action or omission is likewise recommended. Dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, falsification of official document, disloyalty to the Republic of the Philippines and to the Filipino, the inefficiency and incompetence in the performance of official duties, and of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service against PCEO Morales, EVP COO De Jesus, again, Senior Vice President Aragona, Senior Vice President Limsiaco, OIC Gabuya and Division Chief Crisostomo.

Further investigation on following complaints against other officials and employees of PhilHealth as contained in part seven — part six of the attached task force PhilHealth is hereby recommended.

Ayon lang in a nutshell. I have to read this because una, the issue of PhilHealth corruption was really an important issue to the Filipinos and to everybody. And everybody again is also placed in jeopardy by the actions of the officials.

I am sorry for them but they would have to undergo trial. Although, they can always prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Wala pa namang ano pa eh. The presumption of innocence still attaches but the report of another agency says otherwise. So ganun ho ang nangyari sa PhilHealth halos lahat sa board.

So, well I would like to thank all of you for again spending time with me to explain to the people what we have to explain to them, to talk to them. I hope that you would be able to get some — ano ito, nawala lahat iyong pinag-usapan natin dito because the talk of the town now, diyan sa mga kapihan, ito na iyon.

 

— END —