Duterte to Robredo: Don’t add fuel to the fire

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has asked Vice President Leni Robredo “not to add fuel to the fire,” taking a swipe apparently at her criticism of the administration’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Please do not add fuel to the fire. You will just destroy the government. Don’t destroy the government because the people will be affected. If the government is ruined, we will all,” Duterte said in a recorded address aired yesterday.

During a pandemic, Duterte said people become vulnerable to efforts to bring down the government.

Duterte said the problems of the country would not be solved even if he dies while in office.

The Constitution provides that the Vice President succeeds the President in case the latter is incapacitated or dies while in office.

“And here comes Leni saying that if I or the government won’t do it, the people will do. It this time of pandemic, people are desperate and here you are stoking the flames when you don’t have basis,” Duterte said.

On Monday, Robredo urged the administration to improve the economy and criticized Duterte for his alleged failure to act properly on the health crisis.

In defense of Duterte, chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said the government has been implementing Robredo’s recommendations all along.

Panelo lashed out at Robredo for undermining the efforts of the government in addressing the crisis.

“Given that her suggestions have either  been done or are work in progress, it is crystal clear that VP Robredo is trying to undermine the efforts of the government in managing the crisis,” Panelo said.

“Robredo appears to have mastered the art of appearing politically relevant while exhibiting her pretended concern and succeeding to mislead her supporters and the gullible,” he said.

Rather than criticize the administration, Panelo said Robredo should focus her efforts on encouraging the people to observe minimum health standards.

He said Robredo and the rest of the opposition, as well as “those unthinking critics, have failed in this simple and paramountly important call and appeal to the people.

“What is glaringly apparent is she appears to be either completely ignorant or just partisan blind to the fact that her suggestions have long been undertaken and are continuously being done by the government,” he said.

As early as April, Panelo said the Department of Finance had reported government spending P352.7 billion for battling the pandemic. – Edith Regalado

Related video: