INDECENT REMARK | Opposition urges officials to focus on pressing matters instead of exchanging sex jokes

November 16, 2020 , 08:09 PM

(November 16, 2020) – The country’s political opposition, led by the vice president, urged government officials to be more sensitive to people’s suffering in the aftermath of the typhoon, and focus their efforts on responding to the urgent matters confronting the nation at present.

Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, in an interview with the ABS-CBN News Channel on November 16, reacted to President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks during his briefing when he exchanged sex jokes with a local official in Camarines Sur.

A number of cabinet officials were in the briefing, but none of them spoke out against the conversation, which many people slammed for being offensive.

“If we are going through something really serious, it is very important for us to communicate how urgent a particular matter is,” Robredo said during the televised interview.

This was not the first time that Duterte cracked such a kind of remark during a briefing. Spokesman Harry Roque said the president only wanted to “lighten the mood.”

“Ugali na ng Pilipino na bagaman maraming pagsubok, sinusubukan pa rin natin na i-lighten ang ating problema. Hindi lang naman gawain yan ng Presidente,” Roque told reporters in a public briefing on Monday.

“Let us not read anything beyond the fact na the President wants to lighten the mood dahil buong araw, wala siyang nakita kung hindi disaster doon sa Cagayan [at] Naga,” Roque added.

However, these remarks were uncalled for and improper, according to a statement from Gabriela Women’s Party, a member of the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives.

“Instead of dropping sexist remarks, the government should double time in providing emergency assistance,” Congresswoman Arlene Brosas said.

“[Duterte] should also apologize and explain its lack of preparedness and inadequate response tantamount to criminal neglect,” Brosas added.

ACT Teachers Party-list Congresswoman France Castro also lambasted the president’s indecent remark. “If his allies would still defend these inappropriate remarks of the President as being authentic, then it only shows how not serious this administration is when it comes to prioritizing the safety and welfare of the Filipino people and providing rescue and aid to hardest hit areas.”

On Sunday, Duterte visited Camarines Sur to check on the situation of the province after being hit by Typhoon Ulysses, more than just a week after being battered by Super Typhoon Rolly.

“Kapag may matindi tayong pinagdaraanan, napakahalaga yung mensahe na we are giving utmost urgency on things that are really urgent. Kapag binibigyan ng atensyon ang ibang bagay, yung naco-communicate natin, mali,” Robredo said.

(Beatrice Puente/MM)

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