Vice President Leni Robredo urged President Duterte to unite Filipinos amid the coronavirus pandemic.
But Robredo also said Duterte has done something good for the country since he assumed office in 2016.
She cited the “Build, Build, Build” program, which will be key in revving up economy post-COVID-19, and the recent enactment of the Universal Health Care Law and other important laws.
Robredo noted the growing polarization brought about by varying public sentiments on how the administration is handling the COVID-19 crisis.
“Dapat iyong Pangulo mas unifying, in the sense na mas marami tayong maaabot kung iyong collective action natin nandiyan. Sana hindi niya tinitingnan iyong mga suggestions, iyong criticisms, na threat, threat sa kaniyang pamahalaan (The President should be more unifying, in the sense we would be able to achieve more if we have our collective action. I hope he would not look at the suggestions and criticisms as threat to his government),” she said in an interview over Vanguard Radio Network.
The Vice President said that the administration’s response to COVID-19 must also be “more inclusive” for the benefit of everyone.
“With the mandate that he has, with the popularity that he has, marami sanang puwedeng nagawa. Pero parang binigyan kasi ng malaking oras iyong mga bagay na hindi mahalaga (He can achieve a lot. But he gave a huge time focusing on things that are not important),” she said, referring to Duterte’s tendencies to stifle his critics.
“Para sa akin, hindi siya nakakatulong, nawi-weaken niya pa iyong institutions. Hindi nakakatulong sa bansa na – parang iyong vendetta? (For me, it’s not helpful, it weakens the institutions. That’s like a vendetta which doesn’t help the country),” she added.