Duterte to Robredo: I am not pikon

MANILA, Philippines — While he’s not quick tempered, Vice President Leni Robredo’s supposed peddling of “half-truths” about the safety of COVID-19 shots has “irritated” him, according to President Duterte.

“Hindi ako mapikon...hindi ko sarili ito (I am not quick to anger. It’s not me),” Duterte said during a pre-recorded public address last Monday.

“I am angry, but not so angry that I want to kill someone. Anger that is more of an irritation. I was irritated by the words that you said,” he added.

Robredo had called Duterte pikon, or short-tempered.

Duterte said Robredo’s recent remarks had cast doubts on the safety of COVID-19 shots at a time when the government is convincing health workers to get themselves vaccinated.

Robredo previously said the vaccines developed by Chinese drug maker Sinovac should be reviewed by the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) before they are given to health workers.

Malacañang has disputed this, saying health technology assessment is only recommendatory to the health department under the law.

Robredo made the recommendation after it was revealed that the China-made vaccines only posted a 50.4 percent efficacy rate among health care workers exposed to COVID-19.

Officials have insisted that the Sinovac jabs are safe and effective, noting that the World Health Organization (WHO) has set a 50-percent threshold for vaccine efficacy.

Duterte said the HTAC recommendation was not necessary because the Sinovac jabs, which arrived last week, were donated.

He claimed that Robredo, the leader of the opposition, did not read the provision of the Universal Healthcare Law which states that the HTAC could make recommendations if its opinion is sought by officials.

“She muddled up everything. Thereby, I said, creating an uncertainty and doubt in the minds of the people. That’s what made me angry because we were running against time, we need the vaccines immediately,” the President said.

“Now, we were fighting because time was of the essence. We were fighting against the tide of non-believers, telling them not to be afraid. Now, here comes the statement...she did not read the entire law. With just a simple statement, you will create doubt,” he added.

Duterte also chided Robredo for “disservice” to the people by saying that his administration did not follow the proper processes.

“So iyong sinabi niya na…‘Sana sinunod iyong proseso,’ magbibigay siya ng bakokang sa ulo ng tao na sinabi ni Bise Presidente (When she said ‘the process should have been followed,’ she created confusion in the mind of the people since she is the Vice President)... It turns out that at best, they got the recommendation. There was a recommendation,” the President said.

Duterte advised Robredo to read the law and to take note of its important provisions, noting that “a misplaced comma could change the meaning of everything.”

“So I hope that next time, if she cannot say anything right, she just would maybe shut up,” he added.

But Robredo’s camp slammed Duterte for always blaming her for the failure of his administration.

“This administration spends more time attacking Leni Robredo than responding to the real, urgent problems of our people and nation,” lawyer Barry Gutierrez said in a statement.

“We are lagging behind in vaccination, attack Leni Robredo. The government was slow in responding to typhoon and flood, malign Leni Robredo. Millions have lost their jobs, insult Leni Robredo. Now they claim they are not the ones politicking?” he said in Filipino.

“They can do the blame game as long as they want and we will continue our work,” Gutierrez said. – Helen Flores