Vice President Leni Robredo denied President Duterte’s claims that she was ordering the Armed Forces of the Philippines to rescue flood victims in Cagayan during Typhoon Ulysses’ onslaught.
She defended she only passed the distress calls to concerned agencies, including Armed Forces, the police, and local officials, as part of her obligation as a human being.
“Iyong sinasabing [inutusan] ko ang military, mali iyon. Lahat ng distressed calls na natatanggap natin, ipinapasa natin to whoever was on the ground, and that includes the Armed Forces, pati pulis, local officials,” Robredo said.
“Obligasyon ko ‘yun, obligasyon ng kahit sinong makakatanggap ng call for help na maghanap ng saklolo. Sa oras ng matinding sakuna, hindi dapat sarado sa nagpapa-abot ng tulong. Dapat tayong magtulungan,” Robredo pointed out.
The VP also addressed Duterte’s accusation that she did not do anything for the government’s post-typhoon Ulysses response.
“’Pag sinabi mong wala akong ginagawa, karapatan mong sabihin ‘yan. ‘Di ko dedepensahan ang sarili ko kasi alam ng tao na hindi ‘yan totoo,” Robredo said in a chance interview in Ragay, Camarines Sur, where she was distributing relief goods to typhoon victims.
Robredo denies ordering military to rescue typhoon victims
She also addressed Duterte’s threats if she runs for the presidency and is too weak to be President.
“That’s very unpresidential. Karapatan naman niya ‘yun [na magsalita]. Matagal na niya ‘yang sinasabi. Sinasabi niya na wala akong alam, kung anu-ano. Sa dami ng tinatrabaho natin, ‘yun pa ba ang aasikasuhin natin?” Robredo, a lawyer like Duterte, pointed out.
Vice President Leni received threats and accusations from the President during what the netizens called “Duterte meltdown” Tuesday night.
A visibly angry Duterte called Robredo “a dishonest person” and claimed the Vice President spearheaded the #NasaanAngPangulo (where is the President?)
Meanwhile, Robredo took to Twitter to the ‘Duterte meltdown,’ posting a video of Office of the Vice President staff who are busy repacking relief goods for typhoon victims.
“When a President is a misogynist, the conversation goes down to this level. Eto po ‘yung ginagawa namin gabi gabi, nagpupuyat ilang linggo na para, araw-araw, may madala lang na tulong sa mga nangangailangan,” she said.