Bangkok (People’s Daily) – A statement entitled “We rise and fight as one to overcome COVID-19” has been released by former Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, in which she denounced blaming China for the outbreak of COVID-19.
Former Philippine President and APCU Chair Emeritus Gloria Arroyo. (File photo: People’s Daily)
In her statement, Arroyo said that our human community is facing a global pandemic unprecedented in its destructive impact on public health, the world economy and the global social fabric since World War II. The escalating plight of millions around the world is haunting.
“Amid inadequate facilities and at great risk to their well-being, health workers are doing the front liner’s heroic task of attending to the rapidly increasing number of infected patients. Governments have come up with radical measures like travel quarantine and lock downs to contain the contagion,” Arroyo said.
Arroyo called for solidarity in the struggle against the pandemic by saying that we can only allow finger-pointing and fault-finding at our own peril.
“Blaming China for one as the alleged culprit in this viral outbreak has been rejected as a stigmatizing and counterproductive action by the World Health Organization. This virus does not respect national borders and will affect every country.”
Arroyo encouraged everyone to “rise and fight as one to overcome this health emergency” at the end of the statement.