MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) should not be blamed for the mutation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Roque made the statement amid calls from some senators to abolish IATF-EID due to the spike of COVID-19 cases in the country recently.
“Tanggapin natin o hindi, nag-mutate ang mga virus at hindi naman siguro kasalanan ng IATF na nag-mutate itong mga virus sa pamamaraan na mas nakakahawa sila,” Roque said on Tuesday.
“Ang taas ngayon ay dahil sa new variants, unless sasabihin na naman nila dapat gumawa ng paraan ang IATF para pigilan ang mutation ng variants. Imposible po iyon,” he added.
The spokesperson said he vouched for the decisions made by the IATF-EID in COVID-19 pandemic response since President Rodrigo Duterte ordered for its creation last year.
“IATF is not an artificial body. All government agencies are included. We welcome suggestions pero walang makakapantay sa human capital ng IATF,” Roque said. “Huwag naman po nating maliitin ang mga doktor at experto sa IATF.”
Sen. Imee Marcos earlier urged Duterte to abolish IATF-EID and the appointment of public health experts to lead the country’s fight against COVID through a “true science-based” approach.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III “concurred” with the proposal as he lambasted the Department of Health (DOH) for “gross incompetence” in the handling of the pandemic.
Roque then slammed the senators for making abolition calls as he said the COVID-19 situation should not be used for politics since the 2022 national elections is fast approaching.
“We know that from human experience. Marami pong gustong mahalal. Kapag panahon ng eleksyon, lahat ginagawan ng issue,” Roque said. “Huwag naman sana natin pulitikahin ang pandemya,” said Roque./PN
