By Addison Pascua

PHOTO: Abante

Vice President Leni Robredo’s spokesperson Atty. Barry Gutierrez on Sunday advised House Deputy Speaker and vice presidentiable Lito Atienza to visit the Office of the Vice President’s Facebook page to check the different accomplishments carried out by Robredo since she took office in 2016.

Gutierrez issued a reply following a statement made by Atienza questioning what Robredo had accomplished during her term as vice president.

“Klarong-klaro lahat ng proyekto, lahat ng mga natulungan, lahat ng mga kilos na ginawa ni VP Leni at ng kanyang opisina mula 2016. Tapos lalo na itong nakaraang 18 months mula noong nagkaroon tayo ng problema sa COVID-19,” Gutierrez said during the BISErbisyong Leni program on DZXL.

“Klarong nakasaad lahat ‘yun sa Facebook page pero maski kahit hindi sa Facebook page magbasa ka lang ng mga lumalabas na news articles,” the spokesman added.

Despite having a small budget, Gutierrez noted that the Office of the Vice President was able to implement programs to help those who are greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the renowned programs of Robredo during the pandemic are the distribution of personal protective equipment sets to hospitals, free rides during mass transport suspension, COVID-19 vaccination express, swab cab, and teleconsult project Bayanihan E-Konsulta, according to Gutierrez.

“Hindi ito pagmamalaki. Hindi ito pagbubuhat ng bangko pero pagse-set lang ng record. Kasi ang daming paninira at napakadaming mga troll diyan, napakadaming mga tao na mga anonymous account na sinasabi wala daw ginawa si VP,” Gutierrez emphasized.

Gutierrez has likewise reminded Atienza, who is also running for vice president with Senator Manny Pacquiao as his president in next year’s elections, to be careful with his statements against Robredo especially amid the upcoming national polls.

“Nakakalungkot na sa kabila ng lahat ng ginawa ni VP Leni, sa kabila ng lahat ng trabaho na kanyang nagawa para makatulong sa ating mga kababayan, may mga magbabato, magbibitaw ng ganitong klaseng salita na alam naman natin hindi naka-angkla sa katotohanan. Alam naman natin ang pinagmumulan ay hindi aktwal na impormasyon o tamang datos kundi — kundi man paninira — ay haka-haka na mali naman ang batayan,” Gutierrez asserted.

“Sana mag-ingat din. Lalo na kung ikaw ay tatakbo, ‘di ba? Gusto mong tumayo bilang kandidato para sa mataas na pwesto, hindi ba ang unang responsibilidad mo, tiyakin mo muna na ‘yung sinasabi mo tama? Tiyakin mo muna na ‘yung sinasabi mo ay nakabatay sa katotohanan. Simple lang naman ‘yun,” he added.

According to Gutierrez, Robredo is one of the vice presidents in the country who have accomplished so much for the Filipino people despite not having a specific Cabinet position.

“Pero sa katotohanan, sa tingin ko si VP Leni ang isa sa mga pinakamadaming ginawa sa lahat ng mga naging bise presidente natin sa bansa kahit na wala siyang Cabinet position, kahit na wala siyang dagdag na designation mula sa pagiging bise presidente,” he stated.

As of this posting, Robredo is yet to announce her final decision in the 2022 elections. She was recently nominated by  1Sambayanan Coalition group as its presidential candidate.