Diño says suggestion of shame campaign vs quarantine violators, not COVID-19 patients

July 20, 2020

Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño on Monday clarified that he was referring to quarantine violators and not COVID-19 patients when he mentioned the need to launch a shame campaign.

Diño apologized for the confusion brought about by this issue.

“I wish to clarify that some of my statements in my interview of July 18 on Radyo 5 was misquoted and entirely taken out of context,” Diño said in a statement.

“While I did I mention the need to launch a shame campaign, my suggestion was directed not against COVID-19 patients but against quarantine violators such as those who still refuse to wear face masks, observe physical distancing, and abide by the minimum health standards set by the Department of Health (DOH),” he added.

 Diño said he receives many reports and complaints daily from barangay officials on the hardheadedness  of some of their constituents who defy and violate community quarantine protocols.

“Such apparent lack of discipline and concern from some of our countrymen is one of the primary reasons why the number of COVID-19 patients continues to rise despite the sacrifice and hard work of our frontliners and the general public,” he said.

Diño said he uttered his statement out disgust and exasperation over the behavior of quarantine violators.

“I told the program hosts that there should be a shame campaign against such individuals for their audacity to disregard the threat of the disease and the preventive measures we have established. My statement, however, was misquoted or twisted by some media outlets to appear that the shame campaign is against COVID-19 patients,” Diño said.

“Therefore, I would like to set the record straight that I will never personally champion a mentality of shaming COVID patients nor will the Department of the Interior and Local Government. We will always uphold the rights of patients especially during a global pandemic,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS