Despite a 20-minute public rant in which President Duterte accused her of insinuating that he was missing in action at the height of Typhoon “Ulysses” (international name: Vamco) and implied that she was having an affair, Vice President Leni Robredo was hopeful they would eventually reconcile and put their differences aside.
But the gloves are off should she again be subjected to misogynist and sexist tirades, Robredo said in a radio interview on Monday.
Robredo said that while she and the President have “several differences in beliefs and style, [it] does not mean there is no space for us to work together, especially during times of crisis.”
“It’s rather unfortunate that this is what’s happening instead,” Robredo said, alluding to the contentious relationship between her and Mr. Duterte. “But it seems as if the people also dislike that I am being attacked constantly by the President.”
She cited the sudden surge of donations to her office for a relief drive for typhoon victims after his Nov. 17 national address in which he also threatened to give her a “nightmare” should she run for the presidency.
“It seems to be a message that they do not agree with that treatment, not particularly of me, but of the office,” Robredo said.
“It’s like we’re teaching Filipinos to be this divisive and to go against each other wantonly over differences,” she added. “If I did something wrong, criticize me, but don’t lie and don’t be brusque. What he has been doing to me in the past that I ignored before, I will no longer let [it] slide this time.”
At the same time, she condemned Mr. Duterte’s constant sexist attacks on her and asked why he deemed his brusque and often offensive rhetoric to be “natural.”
“What he thinks is natural is just unacceptable,” Robredo said. “So many people look up to you, idolize you, and you teach them how to be uncouth.” INQ