Duterte to Robredo: Give orders on day of typhoon? That’s why you can’t be president

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo cannot become the president of the country if she thinks the commander-in-chief should give orders on the day itself that a typhoon is expected to hit, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday.

“The storm was all over Luzon. Where would you have wanted me to be? In your area in Bicol? In your house? In Naga? So where were you? I did not need to give orders on the day itself,” Duterte, speaking partly in Filipino, said in a pre-recorded speech.

[Original parts in Filipino: “Saan mo ako gusto ilagay noon? Sa inyo sa Bicol? Sa bahay ninyo? Sa Naga? So where were you? Hindi ako kailangan mag-order on the day.”]

“You were assuming I should be giving orders on the day of the storm. That’s why you cannot be president really. The orders were given two or three days [before]. You do not give orders on the day of the war,” he added.

Duterte claimed Robredo asked about his whereabouts when Typhoon Ulysses hit the country.

Robredo did not, however, issue any statement as such.

“Lesson one for you: Do not plan and give orders on the day of the battle. Just sit where you are. If you are a commander, do not go to the frontlines and have yourself shot and die. You’re trying to be a hero in that way,” Duterte told Robredo.

“If you want to be, should you become the president, if you want, buy plenty of swimsuits and start to swim when the floods come. Your suggestive question is a poor man’s argument,” he added.

Robredo shared real-time updates via her Twitter account when several netizens asked for help following massive flooding in Cagayan and Isabela due to Typhoon Ulysses.

Whenever we get updates from the ground, we share them with the public. It is important to assure those who are distressed that (1) we heard you; (2) help is coming; (3) we are doing all we can to save you.

— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) November 17, 2020

She said her office shares updates from the ground “to assure those who are distressed that (1) we heard you; (2) help is coming; (3) we are doing all we can to save you.”

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