Two doctors are gunning for a seat in the Senate amid the raging coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in the country.
Dr. Minguita Padilla, an adviser for the Department of Health and consultant for lawmakers, and Dr. Leo Olarte, former president of Philippine Medical Association both filed their certificates of candidacies on Wednesday.
Padilla is running under Partido Para Sa Demokratikong Reporma. Olarte, on the other hand, is supported by Bigkis Pinoy.
The two doctors cited the government’s poor management of the pandemic as one of their reasons for entering the political arena.
“Ang kulang na pagtugon sa pandemya, ang tila ba pagbibigay halaga sa negosyo higit pa sa kapakanan ng taumbayan, ang garapalang pagpapayaman ng mga taong nagsasamantala sa pandemya sa kabila ng labis na paghihirap nating lahat at kasama na din ang panawagan sa akin ng mga kapwa ko doktor. Ilan lang ang mga ito na naging dahilan kung bakit ko tinanggap ang nominasyon para tumakbo bilang senador,” Padilla said in her speech after submitting her COC.
Olarte said that doctors should be a lawmaker because the “final solution” to the ongoing health crisis should only come from health experts.
“Kailangan po ng isang doktor sa Senado upang mapigilan natin at magamot natin ang number one na problema ngayon sa mundo at sa ating mahal na bayang Pilipinas—ang Covid-19,” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed former military officials to lead the government’s Covid-19 response.
However, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque defended the president’s decision by saying that the government’s response is based on “science and hard data.” Ronald Espartinez