Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 1) — Vice President Leni Robredo’s camp has hit back at Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III after he called Robredo a “non-essential” in the government.
In a tweet on Thursday, Vice Presidential Spokesperson Ibarra “Barry” Gutierrez said Densing “epitomizes” the administration’s COVID-19 response.
“With cases rising, hospitals full, & millions struggling, instead of doing real work, he makes ‘jokes,’ plays politics, & bashes someone who’s actually doing the job they’re supposed to,” he wrote.
“Di lang ito ‘non-essential.’ Ito ay pabigat,” he added.
[Translation: He’s not only “non-essential,” he’s also a burden.]
Gutierrez was responding to a GMA News article where the DILG official clarified that his “si lugaw” remark was made in jest, but then added that he’s “serious in saying that she (Robredo) is a non-essential today.” Densing accused the vice president of only making unfounded criticisms against the Duterte administration amid the pandemic.
In a controversial interview with One PH a day before, Densing said “ang lugaw” or rice porridge is a necessity, whereas “si lugaw” is not — referring to Robredo.
Online trolls and critics of Robredo have called her “Lugaw Leni” after her supporters initiated a fundraiser by selling rice porridge to help support her vice presidency campaign in 2016.
The “lugaw” issue first made headlines on Wednesday, following a viral video of a Grab rider being prohibited from delivering the said food item during curfew hours, with a barangay personnel insisting that it is non-essential.
This guy epitomizes the admin's Covid response. With cases rising, hospitals full, & millions struggling, instead of doing real work he makes "jokes," plays politics, & bashes someone who's actually doing the job they're supposed to.
Di lang ito "non-essential." Ito ay pabigat. https://t.co/vKWegOgWRq
— Barry Gutierrez (@barrygutierrez3) April 1, 2021
