The government is keeping an open mind about "constructive" feedback from people including critics, according to Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.
(PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Panelo however frowned at "destructive criticisms" thrown at the government, saying such critique only sought to tear down the administration with baseless allegations.
"Ngayon kung sa tingin ninyo naman na dapat magbigay ng konstruktibong kritisismo, ulitin ko konstruktibong kritisismo, aba okay 'yan. Hindi 'yung destructive criticism, (Now if you need to give constructive criticism, that's okay, but not destructive criticism)," Panelo said during his "Counterpoint" program Wednesday, March 24.
"Ano ba yung destructive criticism? Pag sinabi mo destructive, ang layunin mo lang sirain mo 'yung pinupuna mo sapagkat ang pagpuna mo ay hindi batay sa katotohanan (What is destructive criticism? When you say destructive, your aim is to destroy the one you're criticizing because your criticism is not based on truth)," he said.
Citing an example, Panelo mentioned Vice President Leni Robredo for allegedly dishing out "destructive" criticisms on the government's efforts to address the coronavirus pandemic. He claimed Robredo offered suggestions supposedly on how to improve the pandemic response, but these measures were already being implemented by the government.
"Di ba destructive yun? (Isn't that destructive?) When you suggest programs that are already either in place or being considered or being implemented, you are effectively telling the people that those suggestions of yours are not being done by the government," he said.
"So ibig sabihin hindi ginagawa, ibig sabihin eh talagang palpak. Pero hindi naman. So 'yan ang tinatawag na destructive (So it appeared the government is not doing it, that it failed but it's not true. So that's what we call destructive)," he added.
Another destructive criticism, Panelo said, was a critic's allegation about the suspected corruption in the government's vaccine procurement without presenting any proof.
He explained that the funds borrowed by the government for the vaccine purchase were actually still with the banks. The funds will be disbursed only once the vaccine supplies procured by the government have been delivered to the country, he added.
"So nasa bangko pa so walang corruption (The money is still with the bank so there's no corruption)," he pointed out.
On allegation that the government's vaccine rollout was slow, Panelo dismissed such claim as wrong.
He said vaccines donated to the country were so far being administered to health workers. The vaccines procured by the government however have yet to arrive in the country amid limited global supply, he added.
Panelo made the comment after noticing some groups continued to nitpick and criticize the government at every turn despite its tireless efforts to address the pandemic and other challenges. He claimed that critics appeared to have turned a blind eye to the government's accomplishments.
"Kailangan maging objective naman tayo. Paminsan-minsan naman bigyan ninyo ng pagpupuri 'yung dapat kapurihan (We must be objective. Sometimes give credit where credit's due)," he said.
On allegation the government was becoming too defensive when dealing with criticism, Panelo explained that they were merely responding to the allegations hurled against the administration. He said they must rectify any false accusation made by detractors.
In a televised address Monday March 22, President Duterte hit back at critics of government's pandemic response. Duterte said they were trying to paint the administration "black" so they would appear "white." "Style bulok (It’s a rotten style)," he added.
The Palace earlier accused critics of engaging in politicking even as the country was dealing with the pandemic. Some critics were supposedly using the pandemic for political gain given the approaching elections.