Lorenzana apologizes to Robredo over claim VP used military plane in Bicol relief ops

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has found out that Vice President Leni Robredo did not board a C-130 military aircraft when she traveled to her home region of Bicol to deliver aid to communities ravaged by the recent typhoons. 

However, an Air Force helicopter, which left for Catanduanes on November 3, carried relief goods that were prepared by Robredo’s office, Lorenzana said in a statement on Wednesday. 

“I requested the Philippine Air Force to confirm through their flight manifest and they reported that there was no instance that Vice President Robredo boarded any military aircraft in going to Catanduanes,” he said. 

“However, there was a jibed mission using an Air Force Huey helicopter that brought relief goods from the Vice President from Legazpi City, Albay to Catanduanes last 03 November 2020,” he added. 

A copy of the flight manifest was shared by GMA News reporter Joseph Morong on Twitter. 

Lorenzana said he has apologized to Robredo over the matter. 

“Secretary Lorenzana said he has sent his apologies to the Vice President for making a comment based on an erroneous report submitted to him,” the Department of National Defense said. 

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo had also said that Robredo boarded a C-130 plane, a claim that was immediately rejected by the vice president’s office.

"Secretary Panelo should get his facts straight," said Robredo's spokesperson, lawyer Ibarra Gutierrez, after Panelo, in his public affairs show Counterpoint, accused Robredo of having a "free ride" on government resources in her relief efforts.

"Nakakalungkot lang, tumutulong si Vice President Leni sa mga tinamaan ng bagyo at baha… imbes na suporta, paninira at kasinungalingan ang binabato,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in an address delivered on Tuesday, lambasted Robredo and called her "a dishonest person."

He claimed that Robredo started the hashtag #NasaanAngPangulo, which trended on social media during the onslaught of Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.

The President also claimed that Robredo gave orders to the military at the height of Ulysses’ onslaught.

Duterte, whose term expires in 2022, then threatened Robredo’s possible bid for the presidency.

Robredo took to Twitter to debunk the President’s claims, posting a video of Office of the Vice President staff repacking relief goods for typhoon victims.

“When a President is a misogynist, the conversation goes down to this level. Eto po ‘yung ginagawa namin gabi gabi, nagpupuyat ilang linggo na para, araw-araw, may madala lang na tulong sa mga nangangailangan,” Robredo said.

She also brushed off Duterte's scathing comments that she did nothing for the government's post-Typhoon Ulysses response, and that she is too weak to become President.

“'Pag sinabi mong wala akong ginagawa, karapatan mong sabihin ‘yan. 'Di ko dedepensahan ang sarili ko kasi alam ng tao na hindi 'yan totoo,” Robredo said in a chance interview in Ragay, Camarines Sur where she is set to turn over aid to typhoon victims there. 

No issue

Armed Forces spokesman Major General Edgard Arevalo sees no problem if Robredo will utilize military assets in connection to her operations in helping typhoon victims across the country.

Arevalo, however, pointed out that proper coordination should be observed before the Vice President's request to use the AFP assets could be granted.

"If you're going to ask us if the Vice President using naval, air, land assets, wala naman po tayong problema doon. Puwede naman po natin siyang tulungan," Arevalo said at a virtual press conference.

"Of course, kailangan po natin siyempre, may mga coordinations tayo na initial na kailangang gawin para alam din po nila 'yung destination na pupuntahan, ano po 'yung security package na kailangan nating ibigay sa kaniya," he added.

Meanwhile, Arevalo also clarified that the AFP General Headquarters did not receive any request or distress calls from the Vice President regarding rescue efforts during the onslaught of Ulysses.

"Here at the General Headquarters from where all directives to deploy disaster responders emanate, no requests or information of distress calls were received from the Honorable Vice President," Arevalo said.

The AFP spokesman, however, said Robredo could have reached out to operational commanders who were on the ground  at the time.

"But be that as it may, if ever the VP had our operational commanders as her 'contacts on the ground' as she mentioned in her tweet and if those calls were received by our action units on the ground, they will render appropriate actions as circumscribed in the orders of the President, SND, and CSAFP to provide the needed assistance—with the information coming from VP," he said. —KG/MDM, GMA News