MANILA - Two opposition senators on Tuesday joined netizens in criticizing Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque over his statement that the country has "won" against the University of the Philippines' projected 40,000 COVID-19 cases by the end of June.
Roque earlier said that Filipinos should work hard to ensure that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country do not reach UP's estimates.
"Hala. COVID-19 ang kalaban, hindi UP," Sen. Risa Hontiveros said in a tweet.
"Sabi ni Luis [Manzano] akala niya COVID ang kalaban, UP pala. Tindi nito," Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said in a separate tweet, referring to actor Luis Manzano, whose social media post about Roque's comment has gone viral.
On June 30, the Philippines lodged 37,514 COVID-19 cases, 2,500 patients short of UP's estimate. The figure does not include thousands of other cases who tested positive but are still being verified.
Of all the COVID-19 patients in the country, 1,266 died, 10,233 recovered, while the rest are still battling the virus.
Kiko Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Harry Roque, University of the Philippines, UP, COVID-19, coronavirus, coronavirus crisis