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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider NTF adviser: No citizen displaced in Roque's PGH confinement

NTF adviser: No citizen displaced in Roque's PGH confinement

Published Apr 14, 2021 11:30 am

A medical adviser of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 believes that no citizen was displaced when Presidential spokesman Harry Roque was admitted to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) because he was probably placed in a room reserved for healthcare workers.

(PGH FACEBOOK PAGE / MANILA BULLETIN)

NTF medical adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa made the statement after Roque was rushed to PGH late Friday after testing positive anew to the coronavirus disease.

In an interview with One PH, Herbosa said when he was still the head of the PGH emergency department, they made sure to accommodate people who serve in government.

"He (Roque) is the spokesperson, he is a Cabinet secretary. Noong ako po ay (When I was the) head ng emergency department of Philippine General Hospital, syempre (of course), we afford a special condition to people who serve in government," he told "Sa Totoo Lang" on Tuesday, April 13.

"Parang suklian na naman natin yun--senator siya, congressman siya. Pag tumawag 'yan, tinutulungan naming ma-facilitate (It's our way of expressing gratitude--he is a senator or a congressman. When they call, we assist them)," he added.

Herbosa was certain that no one was displaced because Roque was admitted to PGH.

"To me, wala namang na-displace na citizen nung na-admit siya (no citizen was displaced when he was admitted)," he said.

"In fact, ang ginive-up na parang room ay room for our healthcare workers, which means hindi naman masyadong nag-i-infect na yung healthcare workers (The room given to him was a room for our healthcare workers. Our healthcare workers are not getting infected that much anymore anyway)," he added.

"Naka-reserve naman talaga 'yan. So may available, nagawan lang ng paraan (That room is reserved. So there is an available room, they were just able to find a way for him). So that's up to the creativity of the hospital director," he continued.

On Monday, Roque refused to answer questions on how he was able to immediately get confined at a hospital despite the lack of beds for coronavirus patients, saying such questions were "un-Christian."

The following day, Roque denied getting special treatment when he got admitted to the PGH, saying he was already "in bad shape" when he got there which merited the admission.

"I can assure you na gaya ng lahat ng hospital, ang basis for admission kailangan (like any hospital, the basis for admission is) moderate and severe cases. Sa aking kaso (In my case), I was in bad shape when I was admitted," he said.

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