DAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte has asked President Leni Robredo not to add fuel to the fire as the country fights against the coronavirus-19 pandemic.
In his televised public address aired on Tuesday morning, Duterte said “At ito namang kay Leni, that in her ending statement said that kung hindi ko daw gawain, ng gobyerno, gagawain ng tao. Well, sa panahon nitong pandemic medyo desperado ang mga tao tapos dagdagan ninyo ng mga ganoon na wala naman kayong base, sana may ipakita kayo”.
In a public address Monday, Robredo made recommendations on how to improve the Philippines’ economic condition in the middle of the present health crisis, as she criticized the administration’s response to the pandemic saying the people will make way to overcome it.
Robredo, who comes from the opposition, was elected as Congresswoman after the sudden death of her husband-the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jessie Robredo often issue suggestions on how to run the government. But her mode of helping has been viewed as insulting the capacity of the Duterte administration.
On Tuesday morning, Duterte advised her “Please do not add fuel to the fire. You will just destroy the government. Huwag ninyong sirain ang gobyerno kasi masisira ang tao. ‘Pag nasisira ang gobyerno, lulutang tayo lahat. Maski na sabihin pa ninyo mamatay ako bukas, it cannot solve the problem of the country”.
Duterte said there is no quick remedy to the country’s problems even if he suddenly becomes incapacitated.
In her video message, Robredo noted the lack of confidence in the government’s leadership in handling its COVID-19 response efforts
She stressed, “How can confidence be built amid continued allegations of corruption—from overpriced PPEs and other assistance to PhilHealth, an agency that is supposed to give us a sense of security in case we get sick. How can there be confidence when we are unsure of where funds are going?”.
The Duterte administration has been criticized for putting military personnel instead of health experts in the frontline against Covid-19, but the President says retired police and military officers are more trustworthy.-Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said there is nothing new in Robredo’s suggestions noting her recommendations have long been implemented by the government.
