VP Sara extends sympathies to flood victims: ‘They feel as if the government failed them’ 

Vice President Sara Duterte said on Wednesday that she understands the cry for justice of the victims of flooding, especially after the Visayas island was battered by Typhoon Tino. 

Duterte said it is normal for the public to get mad and expect action from the government. 

“Natural na sumama yung loob, magka-trauma, magka-phobia, magalit ang mga tao dahil ang expectation nila is that government will work for them, and in this case, they feel as if the government failed them, kaya ganun kadami yung namatay, ganun kalaki yung damage,” she told reporters during the distribution of aid to typhoon victims in Liloan, Cebu. "So understandable, naiintindihan natin yung nararamdaman ng mga tao.” 

(It's natural for people to feel bad, have trauma, have phobias, and get angry because they expect that the government will work for them, and in this case, they feel as if the government failed them. That's why so many people died, that's why the damage is so extensive. So, it's understandable, we understand what the people are feeling.) 

Duterte also said that the investigation must begin at the local government level. 

“Sa managot, dapat simulan ng local government yung pag-imbestiga kung bakit nangyari, paano nangyari at kung ano yung solusyon. Kasi doon natin makikita yung mga kailangan gawin hindi lang ng local government unit kasama na ng barangay, kasama na ng provincial government kung ano yung mga kailangan gawin para hindi na maulit,” she added.

(When it comes to accountability, the local government should start the investigation into why it happened, how it happened, and what the solution is. Because that is where we will see what needs to be done not only by the local government unit, including the barangay, including the provincial government. So we need to know what needs to be done so it won't happen again.)

The Office of the Ombudsman earlier said that its Special Task Force investigating flood control projects will prioritize probing infrastructure works in areas affected by Typhoon Tino.

This was after several groups protested that there is an urgent need to probe the 414 infrastructure projects worth P26.7 billion in Cebu. 

Data from the Office of Civil Defense on November 11 showed that the reported death toll has increased to 232 and the number of missing individuals to 112 following the onslaught of Typhoon Tino. Cebu province tallied the largest number of reported fatalities and missing persons with 150 and 57, respectively. 

Snow White 

Meanwhile, Duterte shrugged off the criticism by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro after she dressed up as Snow White for Halloween. 

“Lagi ko namang sinasabi noon na siguro dapat wag nang bigyan pansin ang kanyang mga sinasabi at mga statements. Kasi kapag binigyan mo ng pansin ‘yan ay nabubuhay ang kanyang career,” the vice president said. 

(I have always said before that perhaps we shouldn't pay attention to her statements and what she says. Because if you pay attention to that, her career thrives.) 

“But more than that, nagdadala ng kahihiyan sa bayan kasi itinalaga siyang spokesperson ng pinakamataas na opisina sa ating bayan, ayan ang Office of the President. Kapag nagsasalita siya at isinusulat ninyo, nababasa ‘yun ng hindi lang ng mga Pilipino kundi ng ibang lahi. Nagdadala ‘yun ng kahihiyan.” 

(But more than that, it brings shame to the country because she was appointed as spokesperson of the highest office in our country, that is, the Office of the President. When she speaks and you write about it, it is read not only by Filipinos but also by other nationalities. That brings shame.) 

Castro earlier defended the recent events attended by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos despite the typhoon wreaking havoc in several parts of the country. 

She said that what the First Lady attended was not a party where one has to dress up as Snow White. —LDF, GMA Integrated News