Sara Duterte-Carpio, Risa Hontiveros trade barbs over PAO chief’s fate

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Presidential daughter and Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Monday called for the resignation of Sen. Risa Hontiveros after the latter asked Persida Acosta to quit as Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief amid the measles outbreak.

Carpio turned the tables on Hontiveros, who she said demanded the resignation of Acosta instead of offering solutions to the measles outbreak.

“Ikaw ang dapat mag-resign dahil wala ka nang sinabi na tama. Lahat sablay (You should be the one to resign, you haven’t said any correct thing). PAO chief Acosta is doing her job in assisting indigent litigants who want to sue over the Dengvaxia mess,” Carpio said.

The mayor said the Dengvaxia controversy eroded the parents’ confidence in the government’s vaccination program.

“You can easily verify this if you talk to the people in the barangays instead of putting your head inside your behind all the time,” Carpio said.

Acosta has been blamed for eroding the public’s trust in the government’s immunization program amid the Dengvaxia scare.

Carpio said the measles outbreak could not be solved with the resignation of Acosta.

“Dengvaxia killed innocent individuals, bakit wala kang human rights angle dito? Let’s think of solutions to the measles outbreak, hindi opposition para lang may masabi. Kapag gusto natin magsalita pagisipan muna para hindi nakakahiya (Think first before speaking so you don’t embarrass yourself),” the mayor said.

Hontiveros yesterday hit back at the Davao mayor for seeking her resignation.

Hontiveros said Carpio should instead call for the resignation of those who have condoned extrajudicial killings, plundered the nation’s coffers, surrendered sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea and collaborated with the Marcoses in revising history.

“Every time she attacks me, she validates my work and vindicates my positions on important issues,” Hontiveros said.

“As for solutions, my legislative track record speaks for itself. From the Mental Health Law, Expanded Maternity Leave Law, Strengthened Anti-hospital Deposit Law, Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act, Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Law, the First 1000 Days Law up to the Positive Discipline Act, we have done the hard work. We have delivered,” she added.  –  With Cecille Suerte Felipe