MANILA, Philippines — A Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) official appeared to have taken a swipe at Vice President Leni Robredo when he said “si lugaw” was not considered “essential.”
“Tama si barangay official — ‘hindi essential SI LUGAW’ — paulit ulit ‘hindi essential SI LUGAW!” DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III wrote Wednesday night on his Facebook page.
“DDS pala sya hahaha,” he added, referring to Diehard Duterte Supporters which is a collective name of individuals supporting President Rodrigo Duterte.
Several commenters on Densing’s post explicitly said that “si lugaw” refers to “Madam Leni.”
Robredo’s critics have called her “Leni Lugaw” since photos of her campaign team selling rice porridge to raise funds for her 2016 vice-presidential bid spread online.
Densing’s remarks come at the heels of a viral video showing a female barangay personnel barring a food delivery rider in Bulacan from picking up an order of “lugaw” or rice porridge, insisting that the nation’s comfort food was not considered essential.
READ: Lugaw delivery stopped in Bulacan; barangay execs say it’s not essential
“Essential po ba si lugaw? Hindi, kasi mabubuhay ang tao nang walang lugaw. Ang essential, tubig, gatas, grocery,” the barangay personnel told the food delivery crew as captured in the viral video.
Malacañang has since clarified that all food deliveries are allowed and must remain unhampered during the implementation of enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna.