Two more opposition senators have been asked to resign and assume the task of leading the government's pandemic response.
(PCOO / FILE PHOTO)
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo has dared Senators Francis Pangilinan and Franklin Drilon to give up their posts and band together with Senator Panfilo Lacson if they believe they could do a better job in addressing the pandemic.
Panelo wanted the three senators to prove their mettle after supposedly making too many complaints about how the administration was battling the coronavirus outbreak.
"Ito rin si Frank Drilon... sinisisi niya na naman ang gobyerno. Isa rin ito magaling din itong manisi. Eh sumama ka na rin kaya. Mag-resign ka na rin. Oo, kayong tatlo. Ikaw, sino pa, si Pangilinan, si Lacson. Mukhang ang gagaling ninyo eh. Mag-resign kaya kayong tatlo at kayo tumulong kayo dito para makita natin ‘yung kagalingan ninyo (Frank Drilon is blaming the government. He is also good at finding fault. You better resign too. You three -- you, Pangilinan, Lacson. It appears you’re all competent so better resign and help so we will see how good you are)," he said during his Counterpoint program Tuesday, March 24.
Panelo earlier challenged Senator Panfilo Lacson to resign his Senate seat and show his competence in leading the government's vaccination program. The challenge was posed by the President's legal counsel after Lacson suggested getting "competent people" for the vaccine rollout amid the delayed delivery in supplies.
From Lacson, Panelo trained his sights on Pangilinan and Drilon who have reportedly been dismayed with the government’s efforts to deal with the pandemic.
Pangilinan earlier called for the resignation of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III in the wake of the rapid surge in coronavirus cases in the country. He said the Palace should be enlightened about the need to replace Duque, adding incompetence should not be tolerated.
"O baka gusto mo ikaw rin. Magsama na kayo ni Ping Lacson. Kayo mag-resign ka na rin Kiko Pangilinan. Marami ka rin reklamo (You might want to try it too. Band together with Lacson. Better resign too, Kiko Pangilinan. You have a lot of complaints)," Panelo told Pangilinan.
"Tingnan nga natin 'yung mga galing ninyo. Sige, tulong-tulong na kayo. Kayo magpatakbo (Let's see how good you are. Go ahead, join forces and run it)," he added.
On Lacson, Panelo renewed his call to the senator to quit his Senate seat and lead the government's vaccination program.
"He sounds or he acts as if he is a competent person to deal with the coronavirus, in the rollout. Madami siyang reklamo. Tingnan natin ang galing niya (He has many complaints. Let's see how competent he is)," he said.
Panelo also defended Duque from the latest resignation call, saying the health chief was neither incompetent nor corrupt. He bewailed that the critics did not know to appreciate the hard work done by Duque and other officials involved in the pandemic response.
Panelo also said he hardly heard the opposition senators issue an appeal to the public to follow health precautions such as wearing of masks and avoiding large gatherings, to stem the surge of coronavirus cases.
"Never ko pa kayo naririnig. Isang taon na tayong ganito. Ang naririnig ko puna dito, puna doon (I've never heard you say these things. We've been like this for a year and all I hear is your criticism here and there)," he said.