VP Robredo camp to gov't: Listen to experts, don't be inutile

The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday called on the Duterte administration to listen to health experts instead of waiting out until a vaccine against COVID-19 becomes available.

Robredo’s spokesperson, Ibarra Gutierrez, issued the response after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque accused the Vice President of politicking since she called out the Chief Executive for saying that the government has been doing enough because there are hospitals, quarantine facilities, and there are morgues pending a COVID-19 vaccine.

“Tuwing may malaking problema, ang sagot na lang nila sa ating lahat, ‘Walang solusyon. Subukan kaya ninyong basahin din minsan ang mga rekomendasyon ng mga doktor at ibang eksperto,” Gutierrez said.

“Ilang beses na ring ipinaabot ni Vice President Leni sa IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) ‘yung marami rito [sa recommendations]…para hindi naman kayo nagmumukhang inutil lagi,” he added.

Robredo has earlier said that the government should improve the COVID-19 response and facilitate the return of employees to work amid quarantine restriction at the same time so as to jumpstart the economy.

“Nagkakasakit at nawawalan ng trabaho ang libu-libong Pilipino. Hindi naman tama na ang sagot lang sa kanila ng ating gobyerno ay ‘Sorry, pero wala kaming magagawa,’ Gutierrez added.

The President earlier said that the public should not listen to Robredo because the “germ flying around” cannot be resolved in a snap.

“Alam mo Leni kung gusto mo, if you really want to do away with the COVID, i-spray-han natin itong Pilipinas o Manila ng pesticide para patay lahat.  What do you want us to do? Ang problema kasi nitong… ‘yung magsabi na we are not doing enough. What can we do with the germ that’s flying around?" Duterte said.—AOL, GMA News