Vice President Leni Robredo’s spokesman did not mince words when he hit back at Presidential spokesman Harry Roque for saying that it was the vice president who pushed to do the vaccine infomercial with President Duterte.
“Let me illustrate the difference between fact and opinion. Fact: VP Leni never ‘pushed’ to have a joint infomercial with the President, and Sec Roque is lying if he insists that she did,” lawyer Barry Gutierrez said in a Twitter post Thursday, May 27.
“Opinion: Someone who habitually lies is probably someone you shouldn't trust. Gets?,” he added.
During the President’s prerecorded public address aired late Wednesday, Roque wrongfully claimed that Robredo “volunteered” to do the infomercial with Duterte because vaccinations are increasing.
The Palace spokesman noted that the vice president has been critical of the government’s vaccination program in the past.
“Pero I think ngayon po, ngayong napapakita natin na dumadami na’ng nagbabakuna, eh bigla namang nagvolunteer, gusto raw niyang umappear sa infomercial kasama kayo. Sa loob-loob ko, ‘matapos tayo siraan nang siraan, eh ngayong nagiging matagumpay ang ating vaccinations, eh makikisama ngayon (But I think now that we have shown that the vaccinations are increasing, suddenly she volunteers. She says she wants to appear in an infomercial with you. I thought: ‘After discrediting us repeatedly, now that our vaccinations are becoming successful, she’s trying to join us’),” Roque claimed.
It was Sen. Joel Villanueva, however, who suggested that the country’s top two elected officials make the infomercial to improve vaccine confidence as latest surveys showed that less than 50 percent of the population is willing to get vaccinated, regardless of the vaccine brand.
Gutierrez earlier said that Robredo is always willing to set aside politics for the good of the people.
“The Vice President simply expressed her willingness to do it to improve vaccination confidence, which remains alarmingly low. She has always been ready to set aside politics and do what is necessary to help our fellow Filipinos.”
Robredo’s spokesman criticized the administration for lying “to push its own agenda.”