Malacañang is not surprised about Vice President Leni Robredo's recent statement that the government has no system in place to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, saying she will always say negative things about the administration.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque issued the statement after Robredo said that she is not calling for the resignation of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III because the problem lies in the system.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Roque said the Vice President is free to express her opinion. However, he added that they have already accepted that Robredo will always be against the administration.
"She’s entitled to her opinion. Of course, as the leader of the opposition, we don’t expect anything positive about this administration from her. We’ve accepted that. I think people have accepted that," he said on Wednesday.
The Palace official said that Robredo will not succeed in changing the public's mind about President Duterte and his administration.
"She can say all the negative things about the administration but people still support the President," he added.
On Monday, President Duterte urged the public to not believe the claims of critics about the supposed lapses in the government's COVID-19 response efforts, saying the government has no business to lie to the people.
"Huwag ho sana kayong maniwala diyan sa mga dilawan, opposition na hampas dito, hampas doon kung anong pinagsasabi (Please do not believe the opposition who just keep on yakking)," he said in his weekly public address.
According to Duterte, the government has no business to lie to the public about the situation.
"Bakit kami magsinungaling na hindi namin trabaho ‘yan at hindi naman kami pumasok sa trabaho para ‘yan lang magsinungaling? Maski Grade 1, Grade 2 alam na namin kung ano ang pagmamahal sa bayan (Why would we lie? That's not our job. We didn't come to work just to lie. Even as elementary students, we know how to love our country)," he said.