President Duterte seems to be not used to criticisms as he easily loses his cool when someone opposes him, Vice President Leni Robredo observed.
On “The Mangahas Interviews," Robredo gave her two cents on why Duterte is sensitive to remarks made about his policies and decisions.
Robredo was again the subject of the President’s rants during his late-night pre-recorded address to the nation on Monday.
“Ako ang tingin ko hindi siya sanay na napupuna siya. Hindi siya sanay na may sumasalungat, kaya every time na mayroong pumupuna o sumasalungat, umiinit iyong ulo niya (In my opinion, I think he’s not used to criticisms. He is not used to someone opposing him so every time someone does, he gets hotheaded),” Robredo said in the interview posted on GMA News' Facebook page Wednesday, March 3.
Although she does not relish being the target of the Chief Executive’s tirades, Robredo said she cannot be idle on important issues.
Over the weekend, she made remarks on how China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine skipped a step in the approval process.
“Inelect naman ako pareho niya. Mayroon naman akong mandato na i-representa hindi lang ang mga bumoto sa akin pero mandato ako i-represent ang mga tao. So para sa akin, karapatan ko lang din saka responsibilidad ko na pinapahayag iyong mga saloobin ko sa mga bagay na mahahalaga (Like him, I am elected. I have the mandate to represent not only those who voted for me but I also have the mandate to represent the people. So, for me, it is my right and responsibility to make my stand known in important issues),” Robredo added.
The vice president tries not to create controversies on insignificant issues but when it comes to the issues about the vaccine, Robredo believes she has to use her voice.
From the start of the pandemic, she has given suggestions on closing the borders against China, where the SARS-CoV-2 originated, doing contact tracing, and creating policies for the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccines.
The lady official defended that these were suggestions and not criticisms. “Kapag galing sa akin, laging hindi welcome (When the suggestions come from me, they’re always not welcome),” Robredo said, adding that the slow COVID-19 response by the government wouldn’t have happened if the administration listened to her suggestions.
Asked about Duterte’s comments that all she does is criticize the government, Robredo said her office’s work speaks for itself.
“Bawat sakuna, andiyan kami. Kadalasan, kami ang una sa ground (In every crisis, we are there. Mostly, we are the first on the ground),” she stressed.