Vice President Leni Robredo admitted that her frustration over the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response led her to want to ask the administration for a "blanket authority" to lead the campaign against the pandemic.
Robredo made the statement amid the surge in new COVID-19 cases in the country.
In an online interview, Robredo said that she wanted a more active role in the government's pandemic response efforts due to the "frustrating" situation that has been going on for more than a year now.
"Nate-tempt na ako magsabi na pwede ba'ng bigyan niyo ako ng pagkakataon na tumulong at mag-manage (I am tempted to ask them to give me the opportunity to help out and manage the response efforts)," she said on Friday, Sept. 3.
"Basta bigyan lang ako ng blanket authority. Siguro naman mag-i-improve naman ito (Just give me a blanket authority and I think things will improve)," she added.
According to the Vice President, several programs that should be implemented remain untouched.
"Ang daming kailangang gawin na hindi ginagawa. Nakaka-sama ng loob kasi last year pa 'to hinihingi (There are so many things left to do. It's disheartining because we've been asking for these since last year)," she said.
Since 2020, Vice President Robredo has been airing her thoughts on how the government can better manage the public health crisis. Malacañang has claimed that her suggestions are already being done.
Despite this, the Palace said it appreciates the efforts of Office the Vice President (OVP) in helping out during the crisis despite Robredo's supposed "nitpicking" of the government's pandemic response.
"While the President has acknowledged the Vice President’s initiatives in the fight against coronavirus, Mrs. Robredo has made it a weekly media habit to nitpick the Executive’s COVID-19 response," Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said August 11.
"It has become noticeable that her criticisms have become incessant and non-stop as the country approaches an election season. This is simply politicking," he added.