MANILA, Philippines — People are more likely to get COVID-19 than die of hunger, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo clarified Monday after receiving fierce criticisms for downplaying the concerns of Metro Manila workers living outside the capital region on the enforced community quarantine.

In an interview over Radyo Inquirer Sunday, Panelo was sought for his comment on workers’ complaints that they are more likely to die of hunger than the virus after they were refused entry to Metro Manila where they work.

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To this, Panelo replied: “Hindi totoo ‘yun. Walang namamatay sa gutom. Ang isang buwan, hindi ka pa mamamatay (That’s not true. No one dies of hunger. One month, you still won’t die).”

But in a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday, the Palace official offered a different twist to his remark.

According to him, workers are just “exaggerating” the alleged harsh protocols being enforced along Metro Manila borders in light of the order to place the National Capital Region (NCR) under community quarantine to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“Sabi raw nila, mamamatay sila sa gutom. When I said that, ang ibig ko pong sabihin doon, kasi ine-exaggerate nila ‘yung problema ng hindi pagpasok eh. Eh hindi naman talaga tayo mamamatay sa gutom, mas mamamatay tayo sa virus. Immediate pa. Dahil tayo naman ay nakahanda naman ang gobyerno tumulong,” Panelo said.

“Hindi tayo mamamatay sa gutom (We will not die of hunger). That’s precisely [because] we’re there to assist. Not only that, we have extended families. Meron tayong mga pamilya na tutulong din sa atin sa panahon ng kagipitan. Meron tayong mga friendly neighbors. Meron tayong sweldo nung nakaraan. So, hindi naman problema ‘yun. ‘Yun ang ibig kong sabihin na mas matindi ‘yung panganib na nakaamba sa atin ngayon (We have families to help us also in times of need. We have friendly neighbors. We have salaries we got prior to this. So, it’s not a problem. That’s what I meant that the danger we’re facing now is more serious.)” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte has placed Metro Manila under isolation from March 15 until April 14 amid the continued increase in the number of people infected with COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2.

Land, domestic air and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila have been prohibited under community quarantine while uniformed personnel set up checkpoints along the borders of NCR to monitor and screen people getting in and out of Metro Manila.

But the government assured Metro Manila workers living outside of it will still be allowed to enter NCR if they present proof – like company IDs and employment certificate.

To date, the Philippines has 140 people infected with COVID-19, including 12 deaths.

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COVID-19, now considered by the World Health Organization as a pandemic, has infected over 160,000 people and killed more than 6,000 in over 140 different countries and territories, including China where the virus originated.

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What you need to know about Coronavirus.

For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

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