VP’s rant vs gov’t may be a diversionary tactic, says solon

MANILA, Philippines – The remarks of Vice President Sara Duterte on the government’s disaster response may be an attempt divert attention from her trip to Germany amid the onslaught of Typhoon Carina, Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua said on Saturday.

“Well, tingin ko, itong banat po niya recently kay Pangulo, it’s a one way of… parang nililihis lang niya iyong issue para mapagtakpan po iyong totoong issue kasi po noong kasagsagan po noong bagyo, papalipad po siya, papunta po siyang Germany,” said Chua in Saturday News Forum. 

(Well, I think, these remarks against the President is one way of… diverting the issue to cover up the real issue during the typhoon when she left for Germany.)

Vice President Duterte and her family flew to Germany on July 25, when rains and a Typhoon Carina whipped and inundated many parts of the country.

“So, apparently, habang nakalubog po iyong Metro Manila at marami po sa mga kababayan natin ang nasa ilalim ‘di ba noong bagyo – binabaha, sinasalanta – ang atin pong Pangulo’y umiikot pero ang atin pong Bise Presidente ay nasa abroad kasama po ang kaniyang pamilya. Kaya sa tingin ko po, ito’y one way of diverting only the issue,” added Chua. 

(So, apparently, while Metro Manila was flooded and many were affected, our President was going around around while the Vice President was abroad with her family. That’s why I think, this is one way of diverting the issue.)

In a statement on Friday, Vice President Duterte questioned the government’s lack of funding on the master plan of the Davao flood control project that was formulated during the administration of her father, Rodrigo Duterte.