President Rodrigo Duterte said in his latest public address on Tuesday night that he has approved the recommendation of the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) to place the entire Luzon under state of calamity.
The recommendation was made earlier this week after it was agreed upon during an emergency meeting “to address the impacts of the latest typhoons that hit the country.”
President Duterte emphasized the need to focus on building structures, including sturdy evacuation centers, in response to calamities amid the large number of displaced families due to the massive impact of previous typhoons.
“It is about time that the government needs to consider really, of course, in the government units facing the Pacific Ocean… na (that) we build stronger structures,” he urged.
Meanwhile, he said that Vice President Leni Robredo “made a blunder, a big one” and pointed out that she “practically lied making her incapable of truth.”
“Alam mo ‘yung pakana niya na wala ako sa bagyo, I was here, dito. I was attending a summit, ASEAN Summit ‘yon. So virtual lang, palit-palit kami (Regarding her accusation that I was not here during the typhoon, I was here. I was attending the ASEAN Summit. It was virtual and we were taking turns),” he stated.
“Do not compete with me. Do not start a quarrel with me… Matagal na akong maraming sasabihin sa’yo, pero ireserba ko na lang. When you start your campaign, kapag tumakbo kang Presidente, waswasan kita nang husto (I have been wanting to tell you a lot, but I will reserve it until you start your campaign for presidency),” he warned.
Robredo debunked the claim of President Duterte that she questioned his whereabouts during the previous typhoon.
“Pero para sabihin mo na nagsabi akong ‘Nasaan Ang Pangulo?’ Hindi iyon totoo kasi never ko ‘yung sinabi… Sa akin, kung sino ‘yung nagfi-feed sa Presidente ng false information, iyon ang dapat hanapin (I never said ‘Where is the President?’… For me, those who fed the President false information should be looked at),” she stated.
“‘Pag sinabi mong wala akong ginagawa, karapatan mong sabihin ‘yan. ‘Di ko dedepensahan ang sarili ko kasi alam ng tao na hindi ‘yan totoo (If you say that I did not do anything, that is your right. I will not defend myself because I know that is not true),” she added. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
