President Duterte asked Vice President Leni Robredo if there was a part in her oath of office about lying after he accused her of peddling half-truths to the public about the government's vaccination program against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Duterte made the statement after Robredo said she was not opposed to the Chinese vaccine CoronaVac, but stressed that it should not be exempted from getting a positive recommendation from the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC).
In his weekly public address on Monday, President Duterte said that Robredo probably read the law but she only gave half of the truth to the public.
"Ang disservice niya hindi niya sinabi na recommendatory (Her disservice was she did not tell the public that the role of the HTAC is purely recommendatory)," he said.
"Lahat na lang ng ginawa natin naghahanap siya ng-- (She's always trying to find fault in everything we do)," he added. The President asked Vice President Robredo if it was part of her job description to lie.
"Remember that you are the vice president. Is there a law or anything in your oath of office that you have to lie?" Duterte said.
"You are dwelling with half-truths," he added.
Not sensitive President Duterte, meanwhile, said he did not get sensitive about Vice President Robredo's remarks after the latter described him as such when he first ranted against her about the same issue last week.
"Hindi ako pikon. Galit ako. Hindi naman ako galit na gusto pumatay ng tao. Galit na more of irritation (I did not get sensitive. I was angry but not to the point that I wanted to kill someone. It was more of an irritation)," he said.
"Nairita ako sa binitawan mong salita. Hindi ako mapikon, hindi ito personal. Yung mga taong maniwala sa 'yo, ayaw magpabakuna, eh 'di bahala sila (I got irritated by your statements. I didn't get touchy because it was not personal. But for the people who believed you and didn't want to get vaccinated, then it's up to them)," he added.