MANILA, Philippines – Opposition Senator Leila de Lima has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to stop being Beijing’s propaganda machine after the chief executive defended China from criticisms regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. De Lima said in a handwritten statement on Wednesday that Duterte should refrain from using his late-night public addresses just to downplay China’s mishandling of the health crisis. The President defended China from accusations that the virus was made in a laboratory — and not naturally-existing as earlier reported. De Lima and Duterte have been at odds even before the latter ascended to the presidency. But despite her detention, De Lima has still voiced criticism of the current administration’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 15, 2020 13:30 UTC