After accusations against Vice President Leni Robredo by Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo and National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana were debunked, they later on apologized to her.
However, as a result of Panelo’s and Lorenzana’s claims, President Rodrigo Duterte had some harsh words for the Vice President.
He recently called Robredo “dishonest” and “incapable of truth” as the president opened his “message to the nation” last Tuesday, November 17.
Duterte also claimed that Robredo had done nothing to help in typhoon response efforts warning her as well not to “compete” with him.
“Kaya ako lumipad sa Bicol, inunahan mo pa ako pakunwari. But do not compete with me and do not start a quarrel with me kasi ikaw wala ka talagang ginawa except ‘yung mga tawag-tawag,” Duterte said.
He continued disrespecting the Second-in-Command by asking where she slept and who she slept with.
“Ikaw, noong gabi, anong oras ka umuwi? Isang bahay ka lang ba, dalawang bahay? Nagtatanong lang ako. Kay congressman ka. Kaninong bahay ka natagalan?” asked Duterte.
Meanwhile, Robredo was unfazed by the president’s attacks. She was quick to expose the lies that Duterte spewed. While the president was still addressing the nation, the Vice President tweeted her response to what he said.
“When a President is a misogynist, the conversation goes down to this level. Ito po ‘yung ginagawa namin gabi-gabi, nagpupuyat ilang linggo na para, araw-araw, may madala lang na tulong sa mga nangangailangan,” Robredo tweeted.
When a President is a mysoginist, 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. https://t.co/J6MJ7yEl6U pic.twitter.com/lrtkpPKI4C
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) November 17, 2020
She also refuted the claim of the President that she was competing with him.
“Sa panahon ng matinding sakuna, dapat lahat na tulong, welcome. Hindi ito contest. Hindi tayo nag uunahan. Lahat tayo dapat nagtutulong tulong para sa ating mga kababayan,” Robredo added.
As a result of Duterte’s tirades against Robredo, the latter earned more support from netizens and celebrities alike.
Radio host DJ Cha Cha supported Robredo by indirectly speaking to the president that no one was competing with him. She said in her tweet, “Wala naman nakikipag-unahan sayo, lagi ka lang talagang late.”
Wala naman nakikipag-unahan sayo, lagi ka lang talagang late 😂👏
— DJ Chacha (@_djchacha) November 18, 2020
Even broadcaster Karen Davila agreed with the Vice President that there’s no competition when helping.
“Walang kumpetisyon sa pagtulong,” Davila said.
Walang kumpetisyon sa pagtulong.
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) November 17, 2020
Actress Agot Isidro even took a swipe at Duterte for trying to discredit the Vice President’s relief efforts.
She said, “Sabihin mo yan sa mga natulungan ni VP leni since Day 1. Snooze, you lose poh. Kay #BusyPresidenteLeni kami.”
Sabihin mo yan sa mga natulungan ni VP leni since Day 1.
Snooze, you lose poh.
Kay #BusyPresidenteLeni kami. https://t.co/haBejCdeOs— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) November 18, 2020
When the truth finally came out, netizens questioned whether the president would take back his words.
Journalist Kevin Manalo wondered if the president would also apologize after Panelo’s and Lorenzana’s claims were proven false.
He tweeted, “Now that they admitted and apologized to VP for passing wrong info to Duterte, will the president take back his words? Inuuna kasi yung tsismis eh.”
Now that they admitted and apologized to VP for passing wrong info to Duterte, will the president take back his words?
Inuuna kasi yung tsismis eh. https://t.co/dO6Sizx1Fg
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) November 18, 2020
Another netizen thinks otherwise, saying that the pride of the President would prevent him from apologizing.
https://twitter.com/obladdiobladdah/status/1328981894835236865
With these issues hounding the government and false information spread by those in power, Filipinos now have become more divided more than ever. There are those who support the Vice President while others continue to blindly support the President. But one thing is for sure, the supporters of VP Leni Robredo are growing.
