Be careful with your words, Robredo urges gov’t execs

Vice President Leni Robredo called on all government officials to be careful when making public pronouncements saying their words were not their own but represent the Filipino people. INQUIRER FILE / RICHARD REYES

Vice President Leni Robredo urged government officials on Wednesday to be cautious when making public pronouncements because they represent the Filipino people.

Robredo issued the advice after she failed to stop media from insisting that she comment on President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent statements in relation to US President Barack Obama.

“Housing na lang muna,” she said when reporters raised the issue of Duterte’s statements during an ambush interview after attending a budget hearing in the Senate. (Let’s just talk about housing)

Asked to comment on Obama’s decision to scrap his meeting with Duterte, Robredo said it was unfortunate but that she remained hopeful that any damage caused by the Philippine leader’s remark could still be repaired.

READ: Obama scraps meeting with Duterte — White House

“Siempre nakakahinayang ‘yun. Pero I think mahahanapan ng paraan to repair whatever damage (the statements might have caused) sa ating relations,” she said.

Duterte and Obama were supposed to hold a bilateral meeting on Tuesday until the US President canceled it after the Philippine leader made remarks perceived by many as hurling invectives at him.

READ: If Obama raises rights issues, Duterte says he will use ‘P’ word | Duterte to Obama: Don’t lecture me on rights; PH not a US colony

Asked if the President should be more cautious with his statements, Robredo said: “Lahat tayo. Hindi lang ang Pangulo, pati ako — lahat ng government officials.” (All of us. Not only the President but me included, and all government officials.)

“Kaming government officials, yung sinasabi namin hindi lang personal,” she said, adding that public officials represent the Filipino people. (What we say as public officials is not personal)

“So kami lahat kailangang maging maingat,” Robredo stressed. (All of us have to be careful.)