Pressed on Cebu event, Roque points to Leni shaking hands with crowd

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Tuesday drew the media's attention to Vice President Leni Robredo shaking hands with a crowd after he was asked anew about an event in Cebu where he spoke to people who hardly practiced social distancing.

Roque indicated that he was being widely criticized for not meeting minimum health standards amid the COVID-19 pandemic while Robredo appeared to be  getting away with it.

“Ang ikinakasama ko ng loob, bakit ako pinupuruhan palagi ng Inquirer at ng ABS-CBN? Bakit noong nakikita ninyo sa screen si VP Leni nakipag-handshake-handshake pa, o hindi ba violation ito ng restriction on social distancing?” Roque said. “Ang tanong ko naman sa mga media na mga kasama natin, patas sana.”

In his news briefing, Roque showed photos of a Robredo shaking hands with several individuals as he addressed the issue of his recent trip to Bantayan Island in Cebu where he spoke before a crowd of people who did not practice physical distancing.

Roque did not give a categorical answer when asked if the government’s COVID-19 task force will investigate Robredo for supposed violation of pandemic protocols. 

Instead, the Palace spokesman reiterated his appeal for fairness in journalism.

“Ang sa akin lang is, bakit nga ako iyong pinuruhan. Hindi ko maintindihan. Ako, nakita ko na iyong picture na iyan,” Roque said. “Hindi naman namin pinapansin iyan because alam naman namin kasi, kaming mga may karanasan sa pulitika na anong magagawa mo eh binibigay iyong kamay.”

Roque said his critics wanted to discredit the government.

“Siyempre hindi nila sisitahin si VP Leni dahil ang gusto lang nilang gustong sitahin ay iyong mga taong gobyerno,” said Roque, who is also the spokesperson of the government’s COVID-19 task force.

"Pinupurahan lang ako dahil ako ang mukha ng Presidente, na once a week ang Presidente nag-a-address, ako thrice a week. So I’m the face of the government as spokesperson."

Roque had previously slammed the two daughters of Robredo for allegedly making veiled attacks on President Rodrigo Duterte on social media after the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses last month.

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

Sought for comment, Robredo's spokesman Barry Gutierrez said Roque should not use Robredo as a scapegoat.

“Nagpa-mañanita ka sa beach tapos si VP pa rin ang ituturo mo? Wow lang,” Gutierrez said in a statement.

A mañanita is a traditional get-together among policemen, usually on officials' birthdays.

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas had one months back despite the stringent community quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-19 and the apprehension of individuals violating quarantine rules, which included a ban on parties.

“I look forward to the day when officials in this administration can just be accountable, accept responsibility and commit to doing better, instead of bashing the Vice President every time the Filipino public call out their shortcomings,” Gutierrez said.

“But I'm not holding my breath,” he added. -with a report from Llanesca Panti/NB, GMA News