‘Arrogance, ego, anger’: Netizens slam Roque’s outburst vs healthcare workers

Following the leaked video of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque slamming the Philippine College of Physicians president Dr. Maricar Limpin and a group of medical experts, netizens were quick to condemn Roque’s behavior on Friday, September 10. (READ: Leaked video shows Roque berating doctors in pandemic meeting)

Filipinos online quickly shared their sentiments as they defended the medical workers’ plight and call for better government support amid the alarming number of COVID-19 cases in the country. 

Look at those eyes — they're full of arrogance, ego, and anger. Harry Roque, don't you dare talk to these underpaid health workers who are risking their lives and their loved ones' just to cover up the incompetency of this administration with regard to COVID-19-response.🤬 https://t.co/VWLq830zvU

— John Wick ♔ (@kebenladen) September 10, 2021

“For crying out loud, no one in govnt wants a single life lost.” – Roque

How about saving the lives of healthcare workers and actually backing us with support that we needed Mr. Tantrum ill-tempered walang silbi spokeperson? https://t.co/zzqNVFJ7Da pic.twitter.com/ibb4mZFAAW

— keiju (@yasnid_) September 10, 2021

I hope our current situation won't deteriorate because health care workers might start abandoning the frontlines 🙂. Just once, let me voice this out. Harry Roque, how dare you do that to our doctors? You do not deserve any position in the government, worse, be a senator!

— latibulenz WP (@latibulenz) September 10, 2021

Netizens also pointed out how there is no denying that the government has been mishandling the situation, citing the government’s imposition of an unclear quarantine-based system as proof that it has been poorly addressing the situation.

‘Non-existent excellence’ in pandemic response

Filipinos also criticized Roque’s claim that the medical workers “have never said anything good about the government response,” arguing that it is, in fact, clear that the government has been incompetent in managing the pandemic.

He says, "No one in government wants a single life lost," but the pandemic response consists of restrictive and punitive measures instead of putting more support behind healthcare workers. It's an act; HCWs have been asking for more support all this time, and Roque isn't deaf. https://t.co/1wEhAXQJmw

— Panopticon Artist (@paulcatiang) September 10, 2021

https://twitter.com/thedawndreamer/status/1436158645503344644?s=20

Asking the same question

Some Filipinos said Roque was not in any position to raise his voice toward healthcare workers. One netizen asked Roque the same question, “How dare you, Harry Roque, [to] think that our doctors are not considering steps to prevent the loss of lives?”

In the time of COVID, it is not wise to berate doctors and health care workers who are risking their lives to save our loved ones from the virus 24/7. Harry Roque should step down if he cannot be as useful, but is arrogant enough to think he is above them.

— Leila de Lima (@AttyLeiladeLima) September 10, 2021

Sa true lang, ang kapal ni Harry Roque to shout at concerned doctors when he can easily use whatever connection he has to get a hospital bed ahead of other more critical patients whenever he needs to.

— Jai Cabajar (@jaicabajar) September 10, 2021

https://twitter.com/padrefiel/status/1436206400082898948?s=20

#KalmaAkoLangTo

Netizens also poked fun of the hashtag #KalmaAkoLangTo, which is often seen in Roque’s attempt to be humorous on Facebook.

#kalmaAkoLangTo 😡 pic.twitter.com/UC6FDfgzVu

— Tarantadong Kalbo (@KevinKalbo) September 10, 2021

Dalhin asap si Harry Roque sa dolomite beach to cure his meltdown#kalmaAkoLangTo

— Mong Palatino (@mongster) September 10, 2021

Here’s what other social media users have to say:

Following the backlash, Roque eventually apologized for the manner he confronted Limpin, saying he got “emotional” during the IATF meeting. The official, however, maintained that he was not sorry about his “message.”

Roque: Yung mga na-offend sa manner, I apologize. But the message remains clear. We need to hear out those who are hungry. | via @piaranada

— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) September 10, 2021

Ma’am/Ser @attyharryroque, if you’re benefitting billions of pesos from the current government, while millions of Filipinos particularly the health workers are suffering due to the government’s failure to manage the pandemic , you don’t have right to your unbecoming behavior

— Ness (@ness_fajardo) September 10, 2021

Si Harry Roque ang tao na nalunod o nalasing sa kapangyarihan. Recall that he’s even a human rights lawyer before!
Kung may konting kahihiyan o delikadeza kapang natitira magresign ka na para ma save pamilya mo sa further na kahihiyan! PDP-Laban is this your kind of senatoriable?

— Budz Ong∞ (@budzbfd) September 10, 2021

On Wednesday, September 8, the PDP-Laban Cusi faction announced its initial senatorial slate for 2022 elections, which includes Roque as a guest candidate.

What are your thoughts on Roque’s statement? Share it with us in the comments and replies or join The Rappler Room! –  Angelo Justin Barraca/Rappler.com

Angelo Justin Barraca is a Creative Writing student at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Other than being a Digital Communications volunteer at Rappler, he often whiles away the day reading books, watching films, or simply scrolling through social media sites while having a good cup of coffee.