‘MAGING HONEST’ | Robredo urges Duterte to provide true assessment of COVID-19 situation

July 20, 2021 , 03:31 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(July 20, 2021) – Be very honest.

Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday had this to say to President Rodrigo Duterte as a token of advice for his last State of the Nation Address (SONA), stressing the need for Filipinos to know where the country stands more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Sa panahon ng pandemic, hindi naman kailangang mag-paint ng napakagandang picture, ‘di ba?” said Robredo during the reopening of her Vaccine Express Program in Manila. “Mas mabuti (kung) mas honest assessment kung ano ang kakulangan, kung ano ‘yung problema, paano natin gagawin para mas ma-appease ‘yung tao sa kanyang pag-aalala.”

“Mas mabuti pang sabihin kung nasaan ba talaga tayo.”

Vice Pres. Leni Robredo hopes Pres. Rodrigo Duterte will give an “honest assessment” on his final SONA regarding the situation of the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (via News5/@romeltv5)https://t.co/2O2l0EN9kU pic.twitter.com/FF5odMJWrU

— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) July 20, 2021

Duterte will deliver his final SONA on Monday, where he’s expected to provide a detailed report on his administration’s achievements over the past year. He would also discuss his legislative priorities in his last year in office.

In last year’s SONA, Duterte recognized the difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. He urged the public not to despair because vaccines are “around the corner” but did not provide a strategy on how he plans to combat the health emergency.

Robredo said this year’s SONA should be treated differently because the country is “in the middle of a grave crisis.” She said Duterte should provide a clear and concrete exit strategy on how to help Filipinos who lost their livelihood.

“‘Yung mga tao, mas ine-expect niya na (makarinig ng) mas realistic na assessment, mas honest assessment—ano ‘yung nangyayari, ano ‘yung balak nating gawin para matawid natin ‘yung mga kahirapang pinagdaraanan natin ngayon,” said Robredo.

Robredo and Duterte have been on opposing poles on various issues, which became more pronounced during the health crisis.

While Robredo has called for a scientific approach, Duterte opted for a militaristic style, deploying security forces and appointing military officials to key positions in the government’s COVID-19 response.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who frequently shields Duterte’s blunders, criticized Robredo several times in the past for her suggestions. He told Robredo to come up with a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic after saying Duterte’s plan to wait for a vaccine was “not enough.”

Last November, at the height of back-to-back typhoons, Robredo urged the government to invest in more resilient infrastructure to improve disaster preparedness. She also visited areas heavily battered by Typhoon Ulysses, providing assistance.

Rather than respecting Robredo’s efforts, Duterte lambasted her for “competing with him” while issuing false claims and sexist innuendos.

Duterte also lashed out at Robredo last March for seeking additional assessments of Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine even if it was the same demand issued by health workers at that time.

(PM | with reports from Rommel Lopez, News 5)

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