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Robredo scores Roque, Antiporda for comments on researchers
By JULIA MARI ORNEDO,GMA NewsVice President Leni Robredo on Sunday stressed the importance of experts’ recommendations amid the coronavirus pandemic as she scored two government officials for their recent remarks against researchers.
“Alam natin kung gaano kahalaga iyong mga rekomendasyon ng mga scientist… Ang pinaka-purpose lang naman nito, maging gabay siya—iyong datos maging gabay sa pagdedesisyon,” Robredo said in her weekly radio show.
Robredo’s statement comes after Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told the OCTA Research group not to publicize its recommendations
concerning quarantine restrictions, and after Environment Secretary Benny Antiporda lashed out at biologists over the Manila Bay “white sand” beach.‘No reason to keep COVID-19 research a secret’
Robredo said the public deserves to know experts’ latest findings on the country’s COVID-19 situation after Roque told them to course their suggestions to the government privately instead.
“Dapat nalalaman ng tao, kasi public data naman iyong research. Iyong UP, public institution na kaya siya nagre-research is to inform people. So hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangang ilihim,” the Vice President said.
“Gusto mo lang itong isikreto kung ayaw mong sundin iyong datos. Pero kung susundin mo naman iyong datos eh tingin ko makakabuti sa ating lahat na alam natin kung ano iyong content ng research,” she added.
Roque later clarified that he does not take issue with researchers making their findings public, but only wants President Rodrigo Duterte to be free from pressure when making decisions on quarantine classifications.
OCTA Research has since said it will continue to publish its COVID-19 reports despite Roque’s appeal.
‘Uncalled for’
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Meanwhile, Robredo denounced Antiporda’s “uncalled for” remarks on the UP Marine Science Institute (MSI).
Antiporda claimed that the UP biologists were milking public funds after they suggested that mangroves instead of crushed dolomite rocks be placed on the Manila Bay shoreline.
“Totally uncalled for,” Robredo said. “Lesson ito sa ating lahat—hindi lang sa public officials, pero pati sa mga ordinaryong tao—na hinay-hinay sa pagsalita, kasi mayroon kang mga nabibitawan na mahirap nang ibalik.”
She underscored that the experts did not deserve the disrespect.
“Lahat naman na research would entail expenses. Iyon iyong dahilan kung bakit nagbabayad iyong gobyerno sa research. Pero ito, ito, dahil sa pagkapikon, magsasabi ka ng mga bagay na, una, hindi dini-deserve,” she said.
Antiporda apologized for his remarks after admitting that he was upset by the experts’ recommendation.
The UP MSI accepted his apology.
“Kahit nag-apologize na, tingin ko hindi talaga maganda. Hindi magandang example, hindi magandang pag-uugali, iyong kapag napipikon ka nakakapagsabi ka ng mga bagay na dapat hindi mo sinasabi,” Robredo said. — DVM, GMA News