VP Robredo has proven leadership skills, spokesperson says amid fresh Duterte tirade

Vice President Leni Robredo has proven her mettle as a public servant, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, her spokesperson said Tuesday amid fresh tirades from President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a televised address on Monday night, Duterte said Robredo is not qualified to run for president as she knows nothing about foreign policy. This, despite the fact that Robredo has yet to mention any political plans for 2022.

The President was reacting to Robredo's statement comparing the government's plan to have Americans pay for the continuance of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to extortion.

In a radio interview, lawyer Ibarra Gutierrez said Robredo has shown her leadership skills amid the ongoing pandemic.

"Noong panahon na mabagal ang program ng gobyerno, si Vice President ang kumilos at nakapag raise ng P60 million para sa kalating milyong PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment) para sa mga ospital. Noong nawalan ng public transport, siya ang naghanap ng paraan para sa libre sakay. Kung kahandaan at kakayahan lang ang pag-uusapan, matagal nang napatunayan ni Vice President Leni 'yun," he said.

Gutierrez also said the Vice President has the responsibility to speak her mind on government policies.

"Nakakalungkot na tuwing may sasabihin ang Bise Presidente, paninira at pangungutya ang inaabot," Gutierrez said.

For his part, Senator Panfilo Lacson, also a subject of Duterte's latest tirade, said the President is wrong to claim that drawing a foreign policy is the sole prerogative of the Chief Executive.

"Mr. President, read the 1987 Constitution. A Senator has something to do with international agreements," Lacson said in a statement.

Lacson was referring to Article 7, Section 21 of the Constitution which states that, "No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate." —KBK, GMA News