Robredo on Duterte’s sex jokes at typhoon briefing: Serious matters must be given ‘utmost urgency’
MANILA, Philippines — After President Rodrigo Duterte cracked sex jokes with a local official at the end of his typhoon briefing, Vice President Leni Robredo underscored the need for the government to give off a message that utmost urgency is given to urgent situations.
“Pero sa akin…kapag panahon na may matindi tayong pinagdadaanan, napakahalaga yung mensahe. Napakahalaga yung mensahe na we are giving utmost urgency on things that are really urgent,” Robredo said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel on Monday.
(But for me…if we are going through something, the message is very important. The messaging is very important that we are giving utmost urgency on things that are really urgent.)
She was sought for comment on the ending of Duterte’s typhoon briefing in Camarines Sur, where he exchanged jokes with a local official laced with sexual innuendos.
“Ako hindi ko yun nakita. May nakita ‘kong pinaguusapan siya sa comments, pero mahirap for me to react…,” Robredo said when asked.
(I did not see it myself. I saw that the incident was being talked about in the comment section, but it would be hard for me to react…)
“Para sakin, hindi lang [For me, it’s not] only with this incident, but with many other incidents. If we’re going through something really serious, it is also very important for us to communicate how urgent a particular matter is,” she also said.
Over the weekend, Robredo and Duterte separately visited areas affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, which has so far killed 69 people.
Ulysses, the 21st cyclone to hit the country this year, triggered massive flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.
It likewise caused flooding in the Cagayan Valley, particularly in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela.
The death toll of the typhoon has so far reached 67, according to authorities.
The typhoon struck areas in Luzon which had barely recovered from the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni), which killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of residences.
