VP won't back down in COVID fight even without IATF post
Published Jun 21, 2020 12:00 am
By Raymund F. Antonio
Vice President Leni Robredo has no intention of backing down from the fight against the coronavirus pandemic even if she doesn’t have any position in the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
Vice-President Leni Robredo
(Mark Balmores / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Speaking on her Sunday radio show, Robredo assured the public she would continue her efforts in helping Filipinos who are affected by the COVID-19 crisis regardless of her post. “Hindi ko kailangan ng posisyon para may magawa pero hindi ako umuurong. (I don’t need a position to do something, but I won’t back down),” she said on “BISErbisyong Leni” program. ”Kapag binigyan ako ng trabaho kahit mahirap iyon, kahit hindi ko hinihingi, parati kong pagbubutihin (When I’m given a job even it is difficult and I didn’t ask for it, I always do my best),” Robredo stressed. The vice president recalled she gave her all during her previous stint as housing czar and co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) in the Duterte administration. President Duterte appointed Robredo in 2016 as head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), but she resigned from her post after she was barred from attending Cabinet meetings. In November last year, she was then appointed as ICAD co-chair, but her stint only lasted for 18 days after she was fired by Duterte due to mistrust and alleged competence to handle the job. Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV suggested to the government to appoint Robredo to lead the IATF, but it was promptly dismissed by Malacanang. Trillanes’ suggestion came after Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque remarked Robredo should just offer solutions instead of criticizing government’s COVID-19 response, particularly handling the locally-stranded individuals. The vice president shrugged off insinuations that she was applying for the IATF post. “Nakakatawa noong lumabas ’yan. Unang-una, hindi ko naman kailangan ng posisyon para tumulong (It was laughable when that came out. First of all, I don’t need a position in order to help),” Robredo said. “Huwag po kayong matakot kasi hindi ako nag-a-apply. Nakakatawa lang kasi nahahalata kung sino iyong natatakot eh (Don’t be afraid because I’m not applying for the post. It’s funny because they were obvious of being afraid),” she added.
Vice-President Leni Robredo(Mark Balmores / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Speaking on her Sunday radio show, Robredo assured the public she would continue her efforts in helping Filipinos who are affected by the COVID-19 crisis regardless of her post. “Hindi ko kailangan ng posisyon para may magawa pero hindi ako umuurong. (I don’t need a position to do something, but I won’t back down),” she said on “BISErbisyong Leni” program. ”Kapag binigyan ako ng trabaho kahit mahirap iyon, kahit hindi ko hinihingi, parati kong pagbubutihin (When I’m given a job even it is difficult and I didn’t ask for it, I always do my best),” Robredo stressed. The vice president recalled she gave her all during her previous stint as housing czar and co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) in the Duterte administration. President Duterte appointed Robredo in 2016 as head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), but she resigned from her post after she was barred from attending Cabinet meetings. In November last year, she was then appointed as ICAD co-chair, but her stint only lasted for 18 days after she was fired by Duterte due to mistrust and alleged competence to handle the job. Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV suggested to the government to appoint Robredo to lead the IATF, but it was promptly dismissed by Malacanang. Trillanes’ suggestion came after Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque remarked Robredo should just offer solutions instead of criticizing government’s COVID-19 response, particularly handling the locally-stranded individuals. The vice president shrugged off insinuations that she was applying for the IATF post. “Nakakatawa noong lumabas ’yan. Unang-una, hindi ko naman kailangan ng posisyon para tumulong (It was laughable when that came out. First of all, I don’t need a position in order to help),” Robredo said. “Huwag po kayong matakot kasi hindi ako nag-a-apply. Nakakatawa lang kasi nahahalata kung sino iyong natatakot eh (Don’t be afraid because I’m not applying for the post. It’s funny because they were obvious of being afraid),” she added.