By Franco Jose C. Baroña – April 2, 2025
AN infectious disease expert who advised the Duterte administration during the Covid-19 pandemic said Tuesday the former president, now facing trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity for his bloody war on drugs, wasn’t so bad because of his achievements in public health.
In a social media post, Dr. Edsel Salvaña said while Duterte was not a perfect leader, his accomplishments were often overshadowed by the controversial war on drugs.
“Focusing solely on extrajudicial killings (EJKs) is not a fair assessment,” Salvaña wrote, referring to the thousands of drug suspects killed in his war on drugs. “Aside from the EJK narrative that mainstream and Western media fixated on, Duterte made some remarkable accomplishments.
One of these, he said, was the enactment of the Universal Health Care Law, a milestone previous administrations had failed to achieve.
“All doctors were very pleased when he signed the Universal Health Care Law. That alone — something no other president up to that point had the courage to do — was a major step forward in providing equitable health care to Filipinos, and we continue to benefit from it.”
Salvaña also defended Duterte’s pandemic response, asserting that while not flawless, it was effective compared to other countries, including developed nations like the United States.
He recounted his personal interactions with Duterte, describing him as “polite and humorous,” someone who asked insightful questions and actively engaged with experts.
“From a professional standpoint, I have no complaints. In fact, I had bigger issues with self-proclaimed anti-Duterte intellectuals who downplayed or even attempted to undermine the pandemic response.”
Salvaña also highlighted a pivotal moment in the early days of the pandemic when variants of concern (VOCs) like Alpha and Beta posed a serious threat to the Philippines.
During a crucial meeting at Malacañang, experts advised Duterte to impose a travel ban on high-risk “red” countries experiencing community transmission of dangerous variants. While Duterte agreed to the restriction, he insisted on an exception: Filipino citizens seeking to return home would still be allowed entry.
Salvaña recalled the heavy silence that filled the room as the risks became apparent — even a single infected traveler could introduce a dangerous variant and endanger countless lives. Feeling compelled to speak up, he directly addressed Duterte, emphasizing the scientific realities of the threat.
Duterte listened intently, acknowledged the scientific argument, and expressed gratitude for the input. However, he remained resolute — no Filipino would be denied entry. He said the government would implement stringent safety measures, including transportation, testing, and quarantine protocols, to minimize transmission risks.