Duterte not focusing much on COVID-19 response, says VP Robredo

Vice President Leni Robredo and President Rodrigo Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte’s focus appears to veer towards politics over the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases after he dedicated his recent public addresses to criticizing senators and even the Commission on Audit (COA).

“Nakikita natin yun (We can see that),”  Robredo said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if she thinks the President is focusing more on politics rather than  the country’s COVID-19 situation.

“In fact, the last two press conferences were really quite frustrating for us kasi nasa middle tayo ng surge na kailangan all hands on deck, yung urgency is really most important now tapos ang greater part of the press conference is pinupuna yung mga senador, pinupuna yung COA. So yung lumalabas kasi sa bibig e, parang we get a sense kung ano ba yung mga priorities na ngayon?” she went on.

(In fact, the last two press conferences were really frustrating for us because we are in the middle of a surge which requires all hands on deck, the urgency is most important now but the greater part of the press conference saw him criticizing senators, the COA. What comes out of his mouth gives us a sense of what his priorities are.)

Robredo said she also noticed that the President does not seem to know the details of the COVID-19 response.

“Ako noong umpisa from March last year, nung umpisa religiously nanonood ako nung Monday evening na mga press conferences. Tumigil na ako the last several months so nakikita ko na lang yung transcript,” Robredo said.

(From the start in March last year, I religiously watched the Monday evening press conferences. I stopped several months ago so I just read the transcript.)

“Pag pinapakinggan ko and binabasa ko yung transcript, may sense ako na hindi niya alam lahat ng detalye.  Ang tingin ko lang, kulang sa pagtutok sa detalye.”

(When I listen and read the transcript, I have a sense that he does not know the details. I think there’s a lack of focus on the details.)

While she recognized the response of government agencies to address the pandemic, Robredo said “weaving” of their efforts remains lacking.

Duterte had stressed that the Philippines doesn’t have that many deaths despite logging a high number of COVID-19 cases.

Robredo earlier said she is interested in helping the administration address the COVID-19 situation.

gsg