The Philippine government should let physically fit senior citizens leave their homes under the general community quarantine, a less stringent form of lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, an advocate for the elderly said Thursday.

President Rodrigo Duterte, some members of his Cabinet and many corporate executives are already senior citizens, said lawyer Romulo Macalintal.

"Mr. President, pareho naman tayong mga seniors at alam niyo naman, hindi pa naman tayo laos at puwede pa tayong magtrabaho," he said in a DZMM interview.

(We are both senior citizens and you know that we are not yet outdated and we can still work.)

"What is legal should now yield to what is practical and common sense na lang siguro ang dapat gawin sa mga pagkakataong ito (is perhaps what should be done in these times)," he added.

About half of the Philippines' 100 million people in Luzon are locked down until Thursday to stop the pandemic. Duterte extended the lockdown in Metro Manila and other COVID-19 high-risk areas until May 15, while all other parts of the country are under general community quarantine starting Friday.

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