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

August 25, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte said that Vice President Leni Robredo should not "add fuel to the fire" amid the coronavirus crisis that the country is facing.

In his taped message Monday night in Davao City but was aired on Tuesday morning, Duterte specifically cited what Robredo seemed to project that his administration was not taking actions to address the problems brought by COVID-19.

"In her ending statement Leni said that if I cannot do it, the government, the people will do. Well, in this time of pandemic, the people are a bit desperate then you will add to that without basis, I hope you will show proof," he said.

"Please do not add fuel to the fire. You will just destroy government. Don't destroy the government because the people will be destroyed. If the government will be destroyed, we will all float. Even if I die tomorrow, it cannot solve the problem of the country," Duterte stressed.

In her televised message, Robredo reiterated her recommendations to the government on the possible actions to be taken during the health crisis, which also affected the economy and the people as a whole.

"And if no one will lead us, we will do this ourselves; we will step up to the plate, we will help each other, carry one another. We ourselves will face this challenge, lead the charge; we will take it upon ourselves to do what needs to be done to overcome any obstacle, in the name of our fellowmen. We will look this crisis in the eye and affirm with conviction: You may bring us to our knees, but nothing can ever stop us—we will rise, again and again and our heads held high. We are Filipinos. We are stronger than any struggle before us," the Vice President has said.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that while the Palace welcomed Robredo's recommendations, those were already being undertaken by the Duterte administration. Celerina Monte/DMS