Vice President Leni Robredo is being questioned by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) for “competing” with the government’s efforts to address COVID-19 Pandemic.
PACC Commissioner Manuelito Luna told the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the Vice President’s fund drive and relief operations, citing that her efforts are competing with the Duterte administration’s own efforts.
“Being a part of the national government, Robredo is barred from competing with the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Office of Civil Defense or the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council,” Luna said.
He added that the Vice President’s actions might violate the government policies in addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Robredo’s camp said that the call for a probe is “Ridiculous and Inappropriate”.
Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez said that the Vice President’s action to mobilize relief drives and her efforts in addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic was the right and responsible thing to do.
“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,” Gutierrez said.
The Office of the Vice President, as of Thursday, had delivered medical supplies to 100 hospitals and Local Government Units nationwide. The office also raised PhP 40 Million from various donors which all went to health workers and frontliners.
“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,” Gutierrez added.
Twitter users responded that there was no competition, after all, pointing that the COVID-19 is the real enemy and not each other.
Kaisa ng mga pangkarinawang mamayan nagpapasalamat ako kina VP Leni Robredo at Mayor Vico Sotto at sa lahat ng mga walang habas sa pagkilos para maisalba at manatiling buhay ang mga Pilipino. Kaisa nyo kami. Kontrubusyon hindi kompetisyon.
— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) April 2, 2020
How fucked up is this system?! They are going after people who are doing good! Just because they are making the president look bad? Unbelievable! https://t.co/xJKhCnHanD
— Kelsey Merritt (@kelsmerritt) April 2, 2020
Masyadong purposeful ang pag plant ng mga issues. Vico and then Leni. Lets not play by their fiddle at mag go against the flow tayo. Tandaan walang mangyayari kapag pinairal ang init ng ulo. Chill muna tayo antayin natin next move nila 🙂
— Alex (@anakngartista) April 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/iampinglacson/status/1245603312142958593
Investigate your own minions Mr. Duterte. 275B someone is set for life FO SHO 😏 https://t.co/F94KqheE7D
— Enchong Dee (@enchongdee777) April 2, 2020
How is this possible???? Kung mabilis umaksyon at nakatulong agad, ibig sabihin ginawa para maka-kompetensya ang gobyerno?
OVP has raised more than 40 Million Pesos for COVID-19 relief efforts.
So pati ba yung mga normal na mamamayang tumutulong ipapatawag niyo rin? https://t.co/5DpuZsWOAm
— nini (@janinegutierrez) April 2, 2020
Well-known TV Reporter Karen Davila tweeted that “There is no competition for God’s sake.”
There is NO COMPETITION for God’s sake. The enemy is #covid19… not each other 🇵🇭🇵🇭
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) April 2, 2020
Gab Pangilinan shared a tweet of this news from the CNN Philippines, wondering how come this has become a competition.
https://twitter.com/gabpangilinan/status/1245573259413712899
Journalist Inday Varona was furious when she learned about this, telling that “Silence is not an option” for the citizens who are criticizing the government response to COVID-19.
NBI going after citizens criticizing govt response to COVID-19?
Let me say it now. SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION. #Resist!— inday espina varona (@indayevarona) April 2, 2020
Meanwhile, Parokya Ni Edgar’s frontman Chito Miranda asked when did the act of helping become illegal. He then urged people to let them help others in times of need.
Teka…bawal tumulong? Competition???
Pag may gustong tumulong, hayaan nyong tumulong!🙄 https://t.co/V4v5BB5aVQ
— Chito Miranda (@chitomirandajr) April 2, 2020
On the other hand, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Deputy Executive Director Mocha Uson tweeted that the probe to call Robredo was fake news, with shared a post from PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica.
“It was a personal opinion and request made by one of the Commissioners of PACC that doest not reflect the sentiments of the Commission,” Belgica said in a video.
https://twitter.com/MochaUson/status/1245605050338013185
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