Pangilinan, De Lima express support to Robredo after Duterte's 'meltdown'

At least three opposition senators on Wednesday manifested their support for Vice President Leni Robredo who received searing remarks from President Rodrigo Duterte in his latest public address.

While Robredo was working to help typhoon-hit communities in Luzon, Duterte was busy hurling misogynistic comments, Senator Leila De Lima said in a statement.

"'Inutil' and 'Sinungaling' are self-descriptive of this President and are in fact his foremost attributes and definitely not of this Vice President. Duterte’s sickening misogyny is beyond reputation," she said.

The President called Robredo "a dishonest person" when she supposedly asked where he was in the aftermath of Typhoon Ulysses. He also belittled her knowledge in typhoon response efforts.

“You are presuming that I should be giving orders on the day of the storm. That is stupid… That is why you cannot be President. Mahina ka. You do not give orders on the day of the war, patay ka,” Duterte said.

The Vice President, on the other hand, denied starting the hashtag #NasaanAngPangulo and remained confident that the people know the truth about her efforts and her ability.

"Mr. Duterte’s latest meltdown does not deserve any retort or serious attention. VP Leni has better things to do than to compete with executive deadweight. Lead, follow, or get out of the way. Duterte should get out of the way," De Lima said.

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan also said providing aid to disaster victims should be the focus, not political bickering.

"Ang mahalaga kay VP Leni ay kung paano makatulong sa mga kababayan natin mula Cagayan hanggang Bicol na tinamaan ng bagyo. Tulong sa kapwa, hindi mga gawa-gawang kuwento at hindi away, ang dapat tuununan ng pansin ng lahat," he said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said Robredo was there with the typhoon victims, walking with them.

"Lumalakad siya kung saan may mga victim-survivors, umuuwi siya sa mga taong tinutulungan niya, kaya tumatagal siya sa aming mga puso. Kung pati yan, iniintriga niyo, dahil misogynist kayo," Hontiveros said on Twitter.

Sought for comment about the issue between the two highest government officials in the land, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he would "rather not jump into their fray."

Malacañang on Wednesday presumed that Duterte had a basis for claiming that Robredo questioned his whereabouts during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.

“As far as the President’s statements are concerned, I think the President would not have been as irritated as he was, if he did not have personal knowledge that the Vice President was asking for his whereabouts, either publicly or privately,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said. —KG, GMA News