Robredo to Roque: You have no right to bully, humiliate doctors

MANILA, Philippines — No one has the right to bully nor humiliate doctors, Vice President Leni Robredo said after a video leaked showing presidential spokesperson Harry Roque lashing out at doctors over opposing views during an  Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases meeting.

She added that the IATF meeting is an avenue for different sectors to discuss and harmonize their takes on the pandemic to better serve the public.

“Kung mayroong ibang tao na kausap mo na iba ‘yung pagtingin sa mga bagay, wala ka namang karapatan na mag-react the way na si Secretary Roque did. Kaya nga may IATF para mapakinggan lahat,” Robredo explained during the BISErbisyong LENI program on DZXL.

(If there is someone who has a different view with you, you do not have the right to react the way Secretary Roque did. That’s why there is an IATF to listen to everyone.)

“Kung hindi ka agree, okay naman sabihin mong hindi ka agree. Pero wala kang karapatan na mambully, mambastos,” the vice president expressed.

(If you do not agree, it is okay to say that you disagree. But you do not have the right to bully or humiliate.)

Robredo noted that Roque’s anger is “misplaced” as the doctors only represent their sector which is the frontline in the COVID-19 pandemic.

She further said that if there was anyone who is politicizing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it was those running the government under President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Parang sinasabi ni Secretary Roque na ‘yung oposisyon daw gusto mag-fail ang government. ‘Di ba kalokohan? ‘Pag nag-fail ‘yung government, pati oposisyon damay,” Robredo noted.

(It’s as if Secretary Roque is saying that the opposition wants the government to fail. Isn’t that nonsense? If the government fails, the opposition will be affected.)

“Sino ba naman mag-wi-wish na mag-fail ‘yung gobyerno sa panahon na ‘to… Kung mayroong namomolitika, sila ‘yun,” she added.

(Who would wish for the government to fail? If there’s anyone politicking, it’s them.)

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