Coronavirus: Duterte gets flak from anxious Filipinos for indecisive response

The coronavirus outbreak in China has spread far and wide, reaching countries and cities in the region such as Japan, Thailand and Malaysia. The Sunday Times foreign correspondents look at how the governments and people in these areas have reacted to the crisis.

President Rodrigo Dutertes told his people not to be "hysterical" and that the coronavirus episode would pass. But the message did not sit well with an anxious population. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
President Rodrigo Dutertes told his people not to be "hysterical" and that the coronavirus episode would pass. But the message did not sit well with an anxious population. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Raul Dancel Philippines Correspondent In Manila
Updated
Published
February 9, 2020 at 5:00 AM
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

It took four days after the Philippines had already confirmed its first case of the virus for President Rodrigo Duterte to show up and address a nation on edge over a mysterious new coronavirus that first emerged in Wuhan, China.

When he did, he told everyone not to be "hysterical" and that it would pass.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

ST One Digital

 $9.90/month

No contract

ST app access on 1 mobile device

Subscribe now

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on February 09, 2020, with the headline Coronavirus: Duterte gets flak from anxious Filipinos for indecisive response. Subscribe

Available for
iPhones and iPads
Available in
Google Play

MCI (P) 076/10/2022, MCI (P) 077/10/2022. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2023 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

Back to the top