‘May himala ba?’ Pangilinan hits DOH for ‘doctoring’ COVID-19 data

MANILA, Philippines — “May himala ba? May madyik? (Was there a miracle? Was there magic?)”

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Friday alleged that the Department of Health “doctored” the country’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) data, particularly the figures on the recoveries of patients.

“Ang mga doktor, dapat nagpapagaling sa pasyente, hindi nangdudoktor ng numero at impormasyon,” the opposition senator said in a statement on Friday.

(Doctor should treat patients, not tamper with numbers and information.)

This comes a day after the DOH recorded its highest daily record of new COVID-19 cases at 3,954 as well as a record-breaking 38,075 new recoveries.

The DOH explained that it has implemented a “mass recovery adjustment,” where it re-tagged all mild and asymptomatic cases as recovered, with an endorsement from the regional offices.

But Pangilinan warned that that such interpretation of data might be dangerous as it gives patients a “false sense of security that they are already well without going through the rigors of swab tests.”

“Makakapanghawa at mas maraming magkakasakit pag ang maysakit ay tinawag na ‘recovered’ kung hindi naman ito na-test. Patayin ba ang taumbayan ang gustong mangyari ng gobyerno?” he questioned.

(Those who were tagged as “recovered” may even infect and sicken other people if they have not been tested. Does the government want to kill the people?)

“Unless we are hiding something, we owe it to the Filipinos to be transparent and to allow the COVID-19 data to speak for itself, and from there plan our course of action in fighting the pandemic,” he added.

EDV