No bullying of Robredo daughters, Roque says

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said there was no bullying of the daughters of Vice President Leni Robredo after they made comments allegedly directed at President Rodrigo Duterte on social media.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, Roque said he was just saying that Robredo’s daughters have commented on Duterte’s response during Typhoon Ulysses onslaught.

“Hindi ko po alam kung sino ang nagbu-bully,” Roque said.

“Pero kami ay siniwalat lang namin ang katotohanan noong sinabi namin na talagang nagsalita rin ang kanyang mga anak sa isyu nga ng #NasaanAngPresidente. So hinahayaan na po natin 'yan,” he added.

The hashtag #NasaanAngPangulo became a top trending topic on Twitter during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, but Robredo’s daughters Aika and Tricia did not use it.

Tricia Robredo on November 14 asked her followers on Twitter “Tulog pa rin? Alas otso na.” Aika Robredo then replied “Sabado eh, weekend.”

Duterte falsely accused Robredo of being behind the hashtag and expressed indignation as a result. Robredo however said she never asked

On Thursday, Roque accused Robredo’s daughters of making veiled attacks on Duterte based on their Twitter posts.

Robredo's camp then expressed dismay that Malacañang is still tied up with "analyzing" the tweets of her daughters when it should focus on helping the calamity victims.

On Friday, Robredo decried the bullying of her daughters, saying they have right to speak their mind on government policies just like any other Filipino citizen.

“Ngayon, ang binu-bully, mga anak ko. I have always been proud of the persons my daughters have become. They are their own persons,” she said.

“What they have accomplished, so far, are all borne out of their hard work. They never used our name or whatever little influence we have to get what they want,” she added.

On Sunday, Robredo said the lies and insults hurled at her and her daughters were a “small price to pay” for the opportunity to serve the public. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News