A fuming President Duterte rebuked Vice President Leni Robredo for being dishonest and engaging in grandstanding as the country grappled with the devastation caused by recent typhoons.

In a lengthy rebuke of Robredo during a televised address Tuesday night, the President said the Vice President made a huge “blunder” when she lied to the people about his whereabouts at the height of Typhoon “Ulysses” last week. Duterte claimed Robredo knew he was attending a virtual regional summit when the calamity struck.

“I would like to just give a caution to the Vice President. She made a blunder, a big one, and she practically lied making her incapable of truth. Alam mo ‘yung pakana niya na wala ako sa bagyo (You said I was missing during the typhoon) – I was here, dito. I was attending a summit – ASEAN Summit ‘yon. So virtual lang palit-palit kami, we were talking sa electronic. Nandito ako noon (I was here),” he said.

“You knew that there was a summit going on and you had the gall to say, ‘Nasaan ang Presidente (Where is the President),” he said.

Duterte, visibly irked by the hashtag #NasaanAngPangulo that trended online last week, said he could not excuse Robredo for not knowing the ongoing regional summit last week. He explained that he actually delivered two speeches during the summit and later made aerial inspection of the typhoon-hit areas last week.

"Leni Robredo knew, I’m sure, that there was a summit meeting. For her not to know it, it’s a sin for a Vice President to be ignorant about what’s happening in government," he said.

"I delivered about two speeches. One for my being the coordinator, ang Philippines is the coordinator of ASEAN-China. And isa pa ‘yung para sa ating bayan, statement for the country. knew it, I’m sure. Vice President siya. She cannot pretend ignorance about that. That’s why I said she was lying. She was a liar," he added.

Duterte also vehemently denied that he was sleeping on the job, insisting that he was monitoring the calamity situation while attending the summit. He explained that during 'ordinary times" or when there's no emergency or typhoon," he was a “night person” who starts his day at 2 p.m. and works until early the next morning.

He also cautioned Robredo against trying to “compete” with him, telling the vice president that it was not the time to engage in grandstanding. He said the concerned government personnel and resources were actually on standby to respond to the disaster.

“So huwag ka masyadong porma-porma, hindi mo talaga panahon. Hindi mo pa panahon. Not time to be making a grandstanding. Hindi ninyo alam na nagtatrabaho ako. Na-timingan lang it was a summit (Do not grandstand too much. It's not yet your time. You don't know that I am working. It's just that there was a summit)," he said.

"You were presuming that I should be giving orders on the day of the storm. That is stupid," he said.

Duterte also reminded Robredo that the military won’t follow her orders since she was "not in the line of authority," and asserted that he is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

"Do not compete with me and do not start a quarrel with me kasi ikaw wala ka talagang nagawa except ‘yang mga tawag-tawag (You did nothing except make some phone calls)," he said.

"Lesson one for you, do not plan and give orders on the day of the battle. You just sit where you are. If you are a commander, do not go to the frontlines and have yourself shot and die. Magpapa-hero ka lang niyan (You're just trying to be a hero)," he said.

Annoyed at criticisms about his supposed absence during the storm, Duterte also shot back at Robredo and asked about her whereabouts whenever she supposedly comes home late.

"There was no need for you to make a very masamang biro na (to make a very bad joke) 'where were you?' Kung sabihin ko tuloy sa iyo, what time did you go home? Ikaw noong gabi, anong oras ka umuwi? Isang bahay ka lang ba? Dalawang bahay ka? Tatanong lang ako kasi congressman ka. At kaninong bahay ka natagalan? Iyan ang sabihin ko sa iyo (If I'd ask you, what time did you go home. Last night, what time did you go home? Just one house? Two houses? I am just asking because you were a congressman. Which house did you stay longer? that's what I'd tell you)," he said.

Robredo recently visited several places severely affected by the recent typhoon, extending relief assistance to the calamity victims. When Cagayan was hit by massive floods Friday, she tried to coordinate the military’s rescue efforts to assist the victims and updated the public through her social media accounts. She made no comment about the President’s whereabouts at the time.

Not ready for presidency

Apart from supposedly being “dishonest,” Duterte belittled anew Robredo’s competence, saying she could never rise to the presidency.

"You cannot become a president really. Mahina ka eh. Wala ka nang ibigay order kasi ang order naibigay na two or three days (You are weak. You won't give an order because the orders were issued two or three days before). You do not give orders on the day of the war. Patay ka (You'd be dead)," he said.

"I hate to say this, but kung ganun ka, huwag kang magtakbo ng presidente --- talagang mahina ka (if you're like that, don't run for president. You're really incompetent. You do not know and then you lied. You were not honest. Isa pa ‘yan (That's one more thing)," he said.

Duterte also told Robredo not to commit such a mistake next time or else he would be forced to insult her.

"You are playing too much --- nagpapa --- nagpapa-ano ka, pagpa-beauty ka ng ano (You're trying to make yourself attractive). It’s not the time for you. During the campaign… Paalis na ako. Sige, subukan mo (when I leave, go ahead and try)," he said.

And if Robredo plans to run for president, Duterte has vowed to campaign against her.

"Matagal na talaga akong maraming sabihin sa iyo pero ireserba ko na lang. When you start your campaign kung magtakbo ka ng presidente, waswasan kita nang husto. Well, this is your bad --- this is your nightmare (I had many things to say about you for a long time but I will reserve them. When you start your campaign if you run for president, I will really hit you hard. This is your nightmare)," he said.