The spokesman of Vice President Leni Robredo branded on Thursday as “ridiculous” the move to have the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probe her for her efforts to assist Filipinos affected by the novel coronavirus, which an administration official perceive as acts that “competes” with that of the government.
“The PACC [Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission] statement is so ridiculous, so inappropriate, so out of touch that I had to verify if it was really true. I am deeply disappointed that it was,” said lawyer Barry Gutierrez in a news statement released by the Office of the Vice President.
Gutierrez reacted to PACC Commissioner Manuelito Luna’s call for the NBI to investigate Robredo over her alleged actions that “competed,” or tended to “undermine,” the administration’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which some groups had considered as “wanting.”
On Wednesday, several residents at a barangay in Quezon City protested over the alleged lack of assistance from the government, with the protest peeving President Duterte, warning the residents and those who plans to carry out a similar activity that he will not hesitate to send in soldiers and shoot them.
As arrests were made, Philippine National Police chief General Archie Gamboa deemed the “root cause” of the protest is immaterial, other than the violation of the law, but added that the policemen would not be sent to hit the protesters, or even shoot them, as maximum tolerance would have to be observed.
Gutierrez said Robredo violated no laws, as what she did was just to help people who have been affected by the Covid-19, an effort that was also being undertaken by other well-meaning individuals and groups.
“Since Day One of the Covid-19 crisis, VP Leni has done all she can to help health workers, government institutions, and ordinary Filipinos overcome the challenges they have had to face due to the restrictions on travel, the shortages in supplies, and, of course, the ever present threat of infection,” Gutierrez said.
“She has mobilized private citizens to procure PPEs [personal protective equipment] for doctors and nurses, organized free transport for those that needed to engage in essential travel, brought extraction kits to the RITM [Research Institute for Tropical Medicine], provided food to police and soldiers manning checkpoints, and set up dormitories so health workers have a place to rest near their hospitals,” he added.
Luna questioned Robredo’s act in providing free shuttle service to affected workers when the public transportation was banned, donated personal protective equipment to health workers and also provided dormitories to frontline workers.
“She has done all this without requesting additional public funds, or seeking expanded powers. She did this because she saw a need, and she took action to meet it. She did this because it was the right and responsible thing to do,” Gutierrez said.
“Anyone who insists that bringing much-needed assistance to hospitals, health workers, and poor Filipinos is somehow a ‘competition’ has absolutely no understanding of the gravity of the crisis we are all facing,” he added.
Earlier, the NBI also invited Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto for possible questioning after he reportedly allowed tricycles in the city to ferry health workers, which is allegedly in violation of the law that gave President Duterte emergency powers.
But Sotto responded he did not violate any law as he stopped the service when he was asked by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and he did it even before the law giving the President emergency powers was enacted.
The government’s move against Robredo and Sotto fished out nasty comments from angry netizens.
Image credits: AP/Bullit Marquez
