Foreign Affairs Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr. (Voltaire F Domingo/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — “Please stop complaining.”
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Thursday chided Vice President Leni Robredo over her remarks questioning several policies of the Duterte administration in its response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVOD-19) pandemic.
In a tweet, Locsin told Robredo to “stop complaining” after the latter questioned the increased military presence in Cebu City.
Please stop complaining. Please. New Zealand has turned to the military as well. It is about getting things done at all and fast without civilian bungling especially those who wear white gowns. Please, please. Tama na ang reklamo. https://t.co/jN7xPP0cFM
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 25, 2020
“Please stop complaining. Please. New Zealand has turned to the military as well,” he wrote.
“It is about getting things done at all and fast without civilian bungling especially those who wear white gowns. Please, please. Tama na ang reklamo,” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier tasked Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu, a former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, to oversee COVID-19 response in Cebu City, which recently saw a surge in coronavirus infections.
Cimatu will be the latest retired military officer to aid the government’s coronavirus response, joining the likes of the National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
In a separate tweet, Locsin said he would ask the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to send to Robredo the press briefing transcripts and presentations with regards to the country’s coronavirus response.
This time, Locsin was reacting to Robredo’s call for a more comprehensive report on how the President used the special powers he was granted with to deal with the crisis.
“What else do you want to know ma’am? I will ask IATF to send you all the transcripts of everything said. Wag lang hard copy kasi maraming forests mauubos. Si [Presidential spokesperson] Harry [Roque] nag give up na sa chatchat natin,” the Cabinet official said.
“[DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay], send all unedited transcripts and PowerPoint less presentations,” he added.