President Rodrigo Duterte responded to the criticisms of Vice President Leni Robredo on the government’s COVID-19 efforts, saying, she “will just destroy the government.”
“Itong sinasabi ni Leni na kung ‘di gawin ng gobyerno, gagawin ng tao… panahon ito ng pandemic, desperado ang tao… dadagdag kayo, wala naman kayo basehan,” Duterte said in an address aired Tuesday morning.
“Do not add fuel to the fire. You will just destroy the government,” he added.
The President then said that destroying the government — or even his death — would not solve the country’s problem.
“Huwag niyo sirain ang gobyerno kasi masisira ang tao. Pag nasira ang gobyerno, lulutang tayo lahat,” Duterte said.
“Kahit sabihin mo mamatay ako bukas, it cannot solve the problem of the country.”
On Monday night, Vice President Leni Robredo, in her 20-minute speech tackled the issue of confidence during national health emergency as government officials face corruption allegations amid the pandemic.
Also read: Duterte on Robredo: ‘I cannot trust her’
“Let me emphasize: Confidence keeps the economy rolling. And the truth is, even before the pandemic, our economy could not reach its full potential because of lack of confidence. . . .This is why, especially now that we are grappling with a pandemic, the last thing that we need is even more instances that erode confidence,” she said.
“How can there be confidence when we are unsure of where funds are going? How can there be confidence when every time the leadership holds a press conference, clarity is in short supply? Clearly, the people are willing to man the oars; what we need is someone to point us towards the proper direction. Someone to steer the ship of state,” she added.
Robredo noted: “Many hold a sentiment that is not difficult to understand: It’s as if no one is at the helm, no direction, no clear horizon as to when and how this pandemic will be addressed.”
“It’s as if we’ve been handed a bit of assistance, then left to fend for ourselves, locked in our homes, living in fear. As if we should shoulder the blame of infections and death, for being too undisciplined, as we have been called. As if we have nothing to expect from our leaders—or there are no leaders at all. As if we have been left to fend for ourselves,” she said.