Vice President Leni Robredo’s office has high hopes more tests for the new coronavirus would be conducted after President Duterte realized the importance of mass testing  to contain the outbreak more effectively.

Vice Presidential Spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said they hope the government would increase mass testing following Duterte’s admission.

In his regular televised public address on Monday, Duterte admitted to having realized the importance of accessible and affordable testing to stop the virus transmission nine months into the pandemic.

“Well, ako, nagpapasalamat na lang ako na kahit papaano sinabi niya na importante pala iyong testing (Well, I’m thankful that somehow he said that testing is important),” Gutierrez said on Robredo’s Sunday radio show.

He noted Duterte’s remark is an affirmation of the repeated calls of Robredo since the onset of the outbreak in March for mass testing to stop the COVID-19 infections. 

Medical experts, as well as private individuals, have been also calling for mass testing during the lockdown period.

“So natutuwa na rin ako na kahit na siyam na buwan na ang lumipas, tinanggap naman ng Pangulo na tama pala na dapat talaga magkaroon tayo ng testing,” he said.

(So we are happy that even nine months had passed, the President accepted that it is right for us to have mass testing.)

Robredo’s spokesperson said they also hope the fake news and online attacks on the vice president would now stop with Duterte’s admission.

“Eh ayan, mismong ang Pangulo na ang nagsabi, ‘di ba, kung hindi sila naniniwala dati kay VP Leni, hindi sila naniniwala sa mga doktor at iba pang mga eksperto, siguro naman ngayon maniniwala na sila dahil si Pangulong Duterte na ang nagsabi,” he said.

(Now the President himself said it, if they don’t believe VP Leni, if they don’t believe the doctors and other experts, probably they will believe it now because President Duterte said it.)