Pres. Duterte’s decision to junk MGCQ bid due to ‘conscience’ -Go

By Jerome Carlo R. Paunan / PIA file photo

CALOOCAN CITY, Feb. 23 (PIA) — Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Monday not only confirmed President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s decision to reject the proposed shift of the entire Philippines to the most lenient quarantine status, but said the move is due to conscience.

Go, who has been Duterte’s long-time aide, said the President’s “conscience” would not allow a transition to MGCQ [modified general community quarantine] because he is concerned that “something might go wrong.”

“The President said he cannot in conscience allow these things [MGCQ and face-to-face classes] to happen and something might get wrong,” Go said.

“No vaccine roll out, no MGCQ muna – PRRD [President Rodrigo Roa Duterte],” Go also said in a text message to reporters.

To recall, acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua earlier recommended placing the country under MGCQ to curb poverty and income loss amid the pandemic.

Majority of Metro Manila mayors and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases also agreed to place the country under MGCQ.

“For the President, further easing the nationwide quarantine classification is not to the best interest of the country,” he emphasized.

He noted that Duterte also reiterated his preference not to allow the dry run of face-to-face classes in low risk areas until the immunization program kicks in.

Go said the Chief Executive expressed confidence that his economic managers will understand his decision.

The national government is expected to kick off its vaccination drive this month with the arrival of initial doses of COVID-19 vaccines. (PIA NCR)