Malacañang said President Duterte welcomes the contributions of Vice President Leni Robredo to the government's effort to address the COVID-19 pandemic despite the Chief Executive hitting her in a public address on Tuesday.
(YANCY LIM / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after Duterte slammed Robredo for her public address, saying the Vice President should not "add fuel to the fire" and not to "destroy the government."
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Roque reiterated the President's reaction to Robredo's taped address.
"That's all that he said about the speech. Times are dire, we're doing the best that we can. Let's set aside politics, for the time being. Let's not add fuel to the fire, and do not destroy the government, yes," he said.
He, however, refused to expound on the President's remarks.
"When the President has said certain matters, I'm duty-bound just to repeat them," Roque said.
"That's the entirety of what he said. But putting it in context, the President has said now is not the time for politicking, now is the time to focus on COVID," he added.
The Palace official said that President Duterte has always welcomed Vice President Robredo's efforts to help address the pandemic.
"When one of his appointed officials dared investigate the Vice President for trying to alleviate the suffering of the people, the President sacked him and said that everyone is welcome to help," Roque said, referring to former Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission commissioner Manuelito Luna.
"So in the same manner, I guess, the President is saying the Vice President is welcome to it. He recognized this, that she has been helping as far as providing assistance to our people is concerned. But right now, set aside politics and continue with helping the people in these very trying times," he added.
In her public address, Robredo suggested to the government to boost public confidence and implement a comprehensive, quick, and clear plan to deal with the health emergency.
She likewise observed that some people felt they are left to fend for themselves in the face of the pandemic.
According to Roque, the government has been considering all recommendations, including Robredo's, that will help alleviate the condition of the people affected by the crisis.
"I have written to the Vice President in response to her letter and we have informed her that we have considered everything that she has recommended, even prior to the receipt of her recommendations," he said.
"We are adopting the entire nation approach and I can tell you all ideas that could be considered in alleviating the condition of our country while the pandemic is ongoing have been considered and we are considering even new approaches as we study best examples that we have worldwide," he said.
Ignorant
However, chief presidential legal counsel and former presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo slammed Robredo for politicizing the issue, saying she is ignorant of the measures being undertaken by the government.
"What is glaringly apparent is she appears to be either completely ignorant or just partisan blind to the fact that her suggestions have long been undertaken and are continuously being done by the government," he said.
"Other matters she raised are already being monitored or improved upon by the government and various departments and instrumentalities," he added.
Given that her suggestions have either been done or are work in progress, Panelo said it was crystal clear that Robredo was trying to undermine the efforts of the government in managing the crisis.
"She appears to have mastered the art of appearing politically relevant while exhibiting her pretended concern, and succeeding to mislead her supporters and the gullible," he said.
"Theatrical pretenses are good for the stage and not the real world. Even in times of pandemic despite their sufferance, Filipinos can see through such farce even if it momentarily amuses them," he added.
Panelo said that if she is minded to help, Vice President Robredo should "lead the opposition as well as the critics and detractors" to appeal to the nation and to persuade the citizenry to consciously and conscientiously observe the minimum health requirements.
"She and the rest of the opposition, as well as those unthinking critics, have failed in this simple and paramountly important call and appeal to the people," he added.
Panelo served as a presidential spokesman from October, 2018, when Roque resigned to initially run for a Senate seat, until April this year when President Duterte brought back Roque.
When his gig as spokesman ended, Panelo started his own program in state-run PTV-4.