Palace chides Robredo’s claim of gov’t focusing on ‘propaganda’ amid COVID pandemic
By Deighton Acuin
PHOTO: NewsLine PH/PCOO-OPS |
Malacañang on Monday slammed Vice President Leni Robredo as she urged the government to stop “propaganda” and just focus on addressing the national challenges brought by the coronavirus pandemic.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque defended the government’s handling of the pandemic, citing the data gathered by the World Health Organization (WHO).
He said the Philippines ranked 32nd in worldwide caseload and ranked 134th in cases per million population.
“Baka magalit ang World Health Organization dahil sinasabi n’yo nagpapakalat ng propaganda. Hindi po. World Health Organization po nagsabi kung nasaan na tayo sa ating COVID response,” Roque said in a televised briefing.
“Bakit namin paniniwalaan ang ibang pag-aaral samantalang lahat tayo nagtitiwala sa World Health Organization sa panahon ng pandemya. Hindi po propaganda ‘yan. Katotohanan. Buksan ang mata, buksan ang tenga,” Roque added.
He also tagged the vice president’s statement of affront to frontliners battling with the crisis.
“It is unfair to refer to their work output as propaganda. Huwag naman po,” Roque said.
In her weekly radio show, Robredo said the government should focus on improving the pandemic response and urged to learn from other nations that are responded well against the infectious disease.
“Huwag na tayo sa propaganda. Iyong response dapat, tinutugunan kung paano mare-resolve nang mas maaga. Kasi mas matagal iyong ganito, mas marami tayong mga kababayan na maghihirap,” she said.
Robredo previously said the Duterte administration did not have clear directions in handling the crisis.
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