Vice President Leni Robredo’s spokesperson Atty. Barry Gutierrez during the press briefing at the Office of the Vice President on July 25, 2019. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso
MANILA, Philippines — A day after President Rodrigo Duterte told Vice President Leni Robredo that she is not ready to be his successor as she knows nothing about foreign policy, her spokesperson shot back saying that she has already proven her leadership skills “since day one,” especially now during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Klarong-klaro naman mula day one ng kaniyang pagiging bise presidente na handang-handa na si VP Leni,” Robredo spokesman Atty. Barry Gutierrez said in an interview over radio station DZRH.
(It is very clear since day one as Vice President that VP Leni is ready.)
He then cited what the Office of the Vice President (OVP) has done during the pandemic, such as raising P60 million to distribute almost half a million personal protective equipment (PPEs) to medical workers, as well as the OVP’s free shuttle service for frontliners.
“So klarong-klaro na kung kahandaan lang ang pinag-uusapan, napatunayan na ni VP Leni iyan. Ngayon, kung sasabihin ni Presidente iyan dahil hindi siya sumasang-ayon sa ibang posisyon ng ating bise presidente, ibang usapin iyon.” Gutierrez said.
(Her preparedness is very clear, VP Leni has already proven that. Now, if the President doesn’t agree with that, that’s another thing.)
In his late night address aired Monday, the chief executive lambasted Robredo after she likened Duterte’s demand for the United States to pay the Philippines to keep the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) an act of extortion.
“Every time she opens her mouth, she forgets that she is a lawyer. Being a lawyer, she should know that the Constitution says that that is my function. It is not their function. Whatever I want to say for the sake of the country, there’s a purpose for it,” Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino, during his address.
He later said: “You, ma’am, I’m sorry to say, you are not really qualified to run for president. You do not know your role.”
Gutierrez, meanwhile, said that the OVP was dismayed with Duterte’s latest tirades.
“Nakakalungkot lang na nauuwi na lang sa ganito tuwing magbibigay ng ano mang mungkahi ang ating bise presidente. Tuwing magsasalita sa ano mang isyu, lagi na lang nagiging ganiyan ang sagot sa atin,” he said.
(It’s just sad that we always get lambasted every time the Vice President makes a remark. Every time she says something about an issue, that’s the kind of response that we get.)
Still, this won’t stop Robredo from being vocal about issues, Gutierrez added.
“Kung tingin niya mayroong bagay na dapat punahin, pupunahin niya iyon,” he said. “Sa kabilang banda naman, kung tingin niya mayroong bagay na dapat purihin, gagawin niya iyon dahil iyan naman ang kaniyang pananaw, eh—sasabihin niya kung anong tingin niyang tama, sasabihin niya kung anong tingin niyang totoo.”
(If she sees something that needs to be criticized, then she will criticize it. On the other end, if she sees something that needs praise, she will do it because that is her thought. She will say what is right, she will say what is true.)