MANILA, Philippines – Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has reacted on latest remarks of Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo as notwithstanding President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s call to stop finger-pointing and a nitpicking to criticize the government’s COVID-19 response.
"We find the action of the Vice President, which is looking at the glass half-empty — focusing on the shortcomings just to score political brownie points at the expense of the Administration — totally unwarranted," Roque said.
Roque said the government have been "as transparent about the lapses as we are about our gains, and as we have said in previous occasions, fighting COVID-19 is a collective effort. It is a whole-of-government approach."
In an interview with CNN Philippines' "The Source" with Pink Webb on Friday, Robredo said the government seems to be in a "state of denial" and did not use time to catch up on preparations.
“Ito kasi, parang in a state of denial. Mayroong mga magagandang ginawa, pero mayroon ding mga hindi nag-work—mga sinubukan natin pero hindi nag-work,” VP Robredo said.
“Ako sana, kapag hindi nag-work, may acceptance na ‘hindi ito nagwo-work kaya kailangan na natin gawin iyong iba’. Kasi para sa akin, this is the time for us to unite eh. This is the time for us to all work together,” she added.
Roque said remarks of the Vice President that the national government is in a "state of self-denial" or praising its actions are hence baseless.
The spokesperson added that Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has been meeting round-the-clock to constantly review its policies and guidelines, where the good and applicable ones are continued while those proven to be ineffective are replaced for better ones.
"This is evident on the number of times we have amended the guidelines. The Office of the President, too, has been submitting weekly reports to Congress."
"With regard to the information in the President’s reports to Congress, which the Vice President described as “kulang,” aforesaid reports contain the focal points of the different agencies of the government. The complete details are with the respective Departments, including their Bureaus and Agencies, which have been communicating to the public through regular briefings, interviews, webinars and printed reports/updates. The Vice President or her research staff should have checked this as well."
Roque urged Robredo to simply request the information she wanted from the concerned offices in the Executive Department.
"I enjoin her not to hesitate in sending her valuable inputs, and I will make sure her concrete ideas will be tabled for discussion in future IATF meetings. This is how we work for the common good," Roque concluded.
— The Summit Express
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| Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (right) answers allegations of Vice President Leni Robredo. |
"We find the action of the Vice President, which is looking at the glass half-empty — focusing on the shortcomings just to score political brownie points at the expense of the Administration — totally unwarranted," Roque said.
Roque said the government have been "as transparent about the lapses as we are about our gains, and as we have said in previous occasions, fighting COVID-19 is a collective effort. It is a whole-of-government approach."
In an interview with CNN Philippines' "The Source" with Pink Webb on Friday, Robredo said the government seems to be in a "state of denial" and did not use time to catch up on preparations.
“Ito kasi, parang in a state of denial. Mayroong mga magagandang ginawa, pero mayroon ding mga hindi nag-work—mga sinubukan natin pero hindi nag-work,” VP Robredo said.
“Ako sana, kapag hindi nag-work, may acceptance na ‘hindi ito nagwo-work kaya kailangan na natin gawin iyong iba’. Kasi para sa akin, this is the time for us to unite eh. This is the time for us to all work together,” she added.
Roque said remarks of the Vice President that the national government is in a "state of self-denial" or praising its actions are hence baseless.
The spokesperson added that Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has been meeting round-the-clock to constantly review its policies and guidelines, where the good and applicable ones are continued while those proven to be ineffective are replaced for better ones.
"This is evident on the number of times we have amended the guidelines. The Office of the President, too, has been submitting weekly reports to Congress."
"With regard to the information in the President’s reports to Congress, which the Vice President described as “kulang,” aforesaid reports contain the focal points of the different agencies of the government. The complete details are with the respective Departments, including their Bureaus and Agencies, which have been communicating to the public through regular briefings, interviews, webinars and printed reports/updates. The Vice President or her research staff should have checked this as well."
Roque urged Robredo to simply request the information she wanted from the concerned offices in the Executive Department.
"I enjoin her not to hesitate in sending her valuable inputs, and I will make sure her concrete ideas will be tabled for discussion in future IATF meetings. This is how we work for the common good," Roque concluded.
— The Summit Express
