Palace says Duterte wants House speakership term-sharing deal honored, but…

September 22, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has scorned Vice President Leni Robredo for her apparent criticisms on how the government addresses the coronavirus crisis by suggesting to her to spray the country or even Metro Manila with pesticide to exterminate the virus.

In a taped televised message on Monday night in Davao City, Duterte told the Filipinos not to believe the "dilawans," referring to the opposition led by Robredo.

"I hate to mention her name, but Leni, you have been saying many things. Know what, Leni, if you really want to do away with COVID, let's spray the Philippines or Manila with pesticide from the airplane so that everyone will be dead," he said.

"You cannot exterminate the COVID now," Duterte said, stressing that the only way to fight the virus now is to wear mask while waiting for the vaccine.

"It's COVID-19 equals vaccine," he said.

Duterte urged his critics not to give more problems.

"Do not add something to the pandemic by making such reckless statements that we are not doing enough," he said.

He insisted that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III almost did not eat or has lack sleep just to do his job.

Robredo has said that the government could address the pandemic and the problems brought by the health crisis through medical and non-medical means.

Meanwhile, in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said no matter what the government would do, Robredo and the opposition would continue to criticize the administration.

"They said we are doing nothing. Well, perhaps they are the only ones who do not know what the government has been doing. Open your eyes and open your ears," he said.

Roque noted the "highest testing rate" of COVID-19 in the Philippines, the establishment of more isolation centers, and the contact tracing that the government has been doing.

He said there was nothing new on the proposals of the Vice President as all of these are being implemented. Celerina Monte/DMS