Vice President Leni Robredo’s spokesman said on Monday, June 14, she is ready and willing to help Davao City as it battles with the COVID-19 surge unless the camp of presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will once more engage in politicking.
Lawyer Barry Gutierrez released a statement in response to Duterte-Carpio who accused Robredo of politicking and demeaning the medical community of Davao City when the latter made suggestions to address the COVID-19 situation in the province.
“Ever since ginagawa na ni VP ito. Tulong lang. Game si VP na gawin din ito sa Davao— unless pulitikahin na naman siya (Ever since, VP has been doing this. Just help. VP is game to do this in Davao, too, unless they politicize her again),” he said.
Gutierrez was referring to the vice president’s COVID-19 programs in Cebu, Tuguegarao, Palawan, and other areas where she listened to people on the ground and searched for “immediate and long-term solutions” to the problems.
READ: Robredo brings OVP’s COVID-19 response programs to Palawan
“Si VP ang pilit hinahatak sa usapin ng pamumulitika habang ang buong focus niya nasa pagtulong (VP is the one being pulled to talks of politics when her whole focus has been to help),” the spokesperson said.
“Hindi ito photo op o tarp, hindi pabebe na picture kasama ang mga pulitikong may hawak sa mga lugar na ‘yun (These are not photo ops or tarpaulins or being cute in pictures with the politicians from those places),” Gutierrez added.
Last Sunday, Robredo suggested that Davao City should learn from how Cebu managed the three-month outbreak from January to March this year.
READ: Davao City must learn from Cebu on COVID containment, says Robredo
Davao City tops the list of the local government units (LGUs) with most new cases per day during the period of June 5 to 11, the OCTA Research said. Davao City has an average of 180 new cases per day during the period while Quezon City has an average of 168 new cases.
Both Duterte-Carpio and Robredo are seen to be coming on a head-to-head collision if they run for president next year.
Robredo said she is open to seeking the presidency but has not made her final decision yet while Duterte-Carpio maintained she will not run next year.