Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 12) — Vice President Leni Robredo has called for a timeout on politicking and urged the government to focus on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic following President Rodrigo Duterte’s rant against a mayor in Metro Manila.
She said fighting will not help COVID-19 patients recover and make the cash aid distribution and vaccination program more efficient.
“Sa panahong ito, wala tayong mapapala sa parinigan at bangayan. Puno ang ospital, ang daming nagkakasakit, ang dami uling nagigipit dahil di makapagtrabaho,” Robredo said.
[Translation: In these times, we won’t get anything from throwing shade and fighting. Hospitals are full, many are getting sick, and many are suffering again because they can’t work.]
“Kung itutuon natin ang lakas natin sa pagtutulungan kaysa sa bangayan, mas marami tayong magagawa,” she added. “All-in dapat tayo sa pagtugon sa krisis na ito.”
[Translation: If we will focus our energy on helping each other instead of fighting, we can do more. We should go all-in on addressing this crisis.]
Robredo made the statement after Duterte mocked a certain mayor of a city in Metro Manila for being “disorganized.” He then instructed the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to take over the distribution of cash aid in that city.
Duterte also questioned the unnamed mayor’s leadership due to his provocative photos in the past and claimed the mayor received a “callboy training” — a criticism which many believed to be pointing to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, who was previously an actor. Malacañang denied this assumption.
Asked for comment, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Robredo “has made it a weekly media habit to nitpick the Executive’s COVID-19 response.”
“It has become noticeable that her criticisms have become incessant and non-stop as the country approaches an election season. This is simply politicking,” he added.
Roque said the Duterte administration has been focusing on addressing the health crisis, with pandemic response being a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.” He added there is close coordination among the departments, health experts, and other stakeholders when it comes to formulating and implementing policies.
“We welcome constructive criticisms, as evidenced by the appeals of the LGUs on community quarantine classifications, but not remarks that devalue the efforts of the national government,” Roque said.
