MALACAÑANG yesterday changed its tune and recognized the efforts of Vice President Leni Robredo in helping government address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who often criticizes suggestions made by the leader of the opposition, welcomed the initiatives that Robredo talked about in her “Ulat sa Bayan” on Tuesday, a day after President Duterte delivered his last state of the nation address (SONA).
Roque said Malacañang never disregarded or diminished the value of Robredo’s contributions.
“We welcome the initiatives of the Vice President in the fight against COVID-19. which she enumerated in her Ulat sa Bayan and we are in no way diminishing her efforts in this trying time. Any contribution, including policy recommendations from the political opposition, to ensure the successful fight against the pandemic, is much appreciated,” he said.
He acknowledged Robredo’s statement that Filipinos are helping one another during the pandemic.
“The Palace is one with the Vice President in her Ulat sa Bayan message that in this challenging time of COVID-19, it is the Filipinos who helped and came to the rescue of fellow Filipinos,” he said.
He added: “We reiterate: Now is the time to focus on COVID-19 and help the national government in achieving population protection; so together, we will recover and have a happy Christmas and a better future for all Filipinos.”
Robredo on Tuesday asked the government to stop sowing division among Filipinos and instead focus on addressing the pandemic.
She said her office has been helping in the campaign against COVID-19 from providing health frontliners with free shuttle services and temporary shelters, personal protective equipment, medical supplies, and food and care packages, to helping the public through vaccination drive-through facilities, mobile antigen testing centers, and telemedicine consultations.
Robredo, as leader of the opposition, is expected to run for the presidency in next year’s elections, but she has not made a decision.
