PNP chief’s Easter message: Rally behind Duterte in fight vs COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — “To my fellow Filipinos, let us commemorate this Easter Sunday by rallying behind our president in this War against One Common Enemy.”

This was the message of Philippine National Police chief General Archie Gamboa on Easter Sunday as the country continues to grapple the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“Our nation and World’s Fight against COVID-19 this Holy Week made us suffer with God, made the world feel the Crown of Thorns and made us admit our weaknesses, ask for forgiveness and forgive our fellow men. Most importantly, this Easter Sunday, strengthen our Faith that God loves us,” Gamboa said in a statement. 

Aside from echoing Duterte’s earlier call on the nation to unite in the fight against the pandemic, Gamboa also urged the public to stay at home and support frontliners. 

“Let us take part in our own 40 days of passion by staying at home while praying and supporting our last line of defense – the Medical Health Workers together with all the frontliners including the men and women of the PNP and AFP who are all heroes in this battle, who risk their lives, being away from their families – to save lives,” Gamboa said. 

“Let us heed the call of the government to stop fomenting panic, hatred, and confusion by propagating disinformation,” he added. 

Gamboa also asked for prayers for those infected by the disease. 

“Let us help the marginalized who struggle to survive the heat inside their shanties while parting the assistance given to them throughout this quarantine period; let us share the pain of being hungry, the pain of not being able to work or being laid-off from work, the pain of losing businesses, the pain of losing loved-ones from COVID-19 and the pain of its impact in our livelihood, our economy and our physical and mental health,” Gamboa said. 

“To all my 205,000 brothers and sisters in the PNP, let us lead in prayer and believe that in Bayanihan We Will Heal as One and have our Own Easter Victory vs COVID-19!” he added.

As of Sunday, the DOH said there are 4,648 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, with the death toll reaching 297.