ALBAY Rep. Edcel Lagman yesterday criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for flying to Germany with her family while typhoon “Carina” was battering the country with nonstop heavy rains, flooding Metro Manila and other provinces.
“Vice President Sara Duterte left hundreds of thousands of Filipinos in agony and despair due to the onslaught of super typhoon Carina as she flew with her family to Germany last Wednesday for an apparent vacation,” the opposition lawmaker said.
The Office of the Vice President confirmed the trip, saying Duterte’s personal trip had long been planned and it is covered by a travel authority issued by the Office of the President.
“The Vice President is on a personal trip with her family overseas. Her departure received the necessary approvals, as evidenced by the travel authority issued by the Office of the President dated 09 July 2024. We thank the public for respecting the privacy of the other members of the family,” it said.
While the timing of the trip was “unfortunate,” the OVP said, its Disaster Operations Center “is always ready to assist families affected by calamities.”
Lagman said the Vice President’s “lack of empathy and concern is appalling as Metro Manila and many parts of the country are reeling in a state of emergency.”
Duterte, in a gray hoodie, was spotted with her husband Manases Carpio, their children, and her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday
The Vice President and her family reportedly boarded a plane bound for Dubai where they will take a connecting flight to Munich.
Some netizens surmised the Vice President flew to Germany to watch the American pop star Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” concert.
Lagman said “it is not an excuse that the trip has long been planned and she has a travel authority.”
“It does not justify her leaving the country at a time of crisis,” he said.
“She should have allowed the members of her family to go ahead with the trip and she could have just followed after attending personally to the needs of the victims as is expected of a genuine public servant,” he said.
Lagman said what Duterte did was “in stark contrast” with what Angat Buhay Foundation of former vice president Leni Robredo has been doing, “spontaneously and continuously aiding the victims even as its immediate help and assistance has inspired volunteerism among citizens.”
“The sincerity of public leaders must be gauged by their selflessness and support in times of nationwide calamities and emergencies,” he said.
The OVP said it conducted relief operations in Barangay Manresa, Quezon City, where it distributed relief bags to 300 families at a covered basketball court which was used as an evacuation center.
Relief operations were also conducted in five evacuation centers in Tondo, Manila and another four at the Baseco Compound.
Sen. Imee Marcos came to Duterte’s defense.
“Matagal nang plano yun at hindi naman niya alam na may bagyo. Pambihira naman (The trip has long been planned and she did not know that there will be a typhoon [on their scheduled flight]. It’s ridiculous),” she said.
Marcos also said the Office of the Vice President was among the government offices which extended assistance to the typhoon victims even if Duterte is no longer around to personally help.
Marcos said she has no idea where Duterte went, saying it was probably a personal trip where the Vice President will take advantage of getting her much-needed relaxation.
Marcos has maintained her close ties with Duterte even after her brother, President Marcos Jr, and the Vice President have parted ways, thus dismantling the “UniTeam” which was formed during the 2022 elections. — With Raymond Africa
