Roque: Critics free to disagree that Philippines is 'winning' COVID-19 fight

MANILA - The Philippines is "winning" the fight against COVID-19, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque declared Tuesday even as the country has recently been logging record-high new daily cases of the infectious disease.

Those who believe otherwise are free to do so, Roque said, noting that the country has enough capacity to provide medical care for those who might contract the illness.

"I will always say we are winning against COVID-19," he said.

"Siguro, doon sa mga ayaw maniwalang nananalo tayo, sige po, sa inyong personal na paninindigan, tanggapin niyo po iyon," he added.

(For those who refuse to believe that we are winning, that is your personal opinion.)

"Pero habang hindi po namamatay ang tao, habang meron po tayong kapasidad na magbigay ng medikal na lunas sa mga nagkakasakit, hindi ko po matatanggap na tayo'y hindi nananalo sa sakit na ito," Roque said.

(As long as people are not dying, as long as we have the capacity to provide medical care for those who will get sick, I will not accept that we are not winning against this disease.)

The Philippines in recent days has seen a spike in coronavirus infections just after the government largely eased community quarantine protocols across the country.

The country's health department reported 1,540 additional COVID-19 cases in the country on Tuesday, including 993 "fresh cases", bringing the cumulative total to 47,873.

The highest number of additional cases in a single day — 2,434 — was recorded last Sunday.

• PH logs record-high 1,258 ‘fresh’ COVID-19 cases in a day; total cases at 46,333

Amid the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, Roque claimed that the government took the right steps in addressing the health crisis.

• Duterte gov't 'in control' of Philippine coronavirus crisis: Palace
• 'Panalo na tayo': Roque rejoices as PH 'beats' UP prediction of 40,000 COVID-19 cases

Roque said he would stand by his pronouncement that the Philippines is winning its fight over COVID-19 for as long as the country's mortality rate is lower than the global average.

“Kung sa tingin niyo po talaga na tayo’y di nagwawagi, nasa inyo na po yun," he added.

(If you think we're not winning, that's up to you.)

• Palace: No other alternative but to reopen economy despite increasing COVID-19 cases