MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has criticized President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged “incompetence” when the President appeared in a press conference Monday night to tackle issues on the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“Duterte’s incompetence was in full display during the Monday night presscon, which was, ironically, supposed to be his national address to assure the Filipino people that the government is competently addressing the COVID-19 outbreak,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

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“Duterte was totally clueless, incoherent and at times, simply didn’t make sense. The usual expletives and sick jokes couldn’t cover for his ineptness anymore,” the former senator, a staunch critic of Duterte, added.

Trillanes hoped that the Department of Health (DOH) would instead step up and get the support it “badly needs.”

The President faced the media on Monday night after meeting with Metro Manila mayors and other officials regarding the COVID-19 threat.

In that same forum, Duterte announced the suspension of classes in Metro Manila from March 10 to March 14. He also rejected the proposal to have the metropolis under lockdown.

However, netizens posted transcripts of the President’s press conference on social media, mockingly calling him a “mad poet.”

May bago nang mad poet in town na biglang nagtrending, tinalo ang beatniks, surrealists at dadaists sa absurbity of thought, logic and language use.The Kit by Du30BakitKitbaKitakitaKitamona#COVID19 Posted by Rolando B. Tolentino on Monday, March 9, 2020

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Edited by JPV

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