Do you ever get mad at people doing their job, or even doing mundane tasks like eating chicken or existing? Can’t relate, but I saw someone make a funny TikTok about it, and now I think I’m seeing it IRL.
In his public address last night, President Rodrigo Duterte blamed Vice President Leni Robredo for the hashtag #NasaanAngPangulo, which trended as people sought accountability and action during the onslaught of Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.
“I would like to give a caution to the Vice President. She made a blunder, a big one, and she practically lied, making her incapable of truth. Iyong pakana niya na wala ako noong bagyo, I was here. I was attending the ASEAN Summit,” the president said.
In what seems to be a classic gaslighting tactic straight off the softboi manual, the tables were turned and the other party was made out to be the liar. In response, VP Robredo pulled out her receipts.
I just called out Sec Panelo for peddling fake news. I am also calling out whoever peddled the fake news to the President, kaya ganito siya ka pikon. I never said “Where is the President”? You can review all my tweets.
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) November 17, 2020
Pinapasa namin yung lahat na distress calls sa lahat na puwede namin ma contact on the ground – AFP, PNP, everyone we can get hold of. Buhay ng ating mga kababayan ang nakataya. There is no space for our ego when lives at are stake.
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) November 17, 2020
And she does have a point. If you look at Robredo’s Twitter account, you won’t see her using the hashtag at all. All you’ll see are real-time updates on the donation drives and initiatives that her office has been occupied with. (Maybe with the exception of this golden tweet, lols.)
She even said that anyone can actually come and check to see for themselves.
ATM at the OVP. Anyone can come now to check. pic.twitter.com/KocmMUokg6
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) November 17, 2020
Robredo’s Facebook page also livestreams updates and shares infographics on the Office of the Vice President’s relief operations. If this is someone “not doing anything,” then boy, are some people in denial. Delusion, convince yourself.
As much as we’re here for the merciless fact-checking and receipt-pulling, this is also a reminder for us to hold all public officials accountable for their actions. Be grateful for the help, sure, but keep in mind that this is their job. This is not charity work or corporate social responsibility; they’re literally public servants who swore to serve the public when they assumed their posts.
We’re tired of the crumbs. The televised meltdown and lack of accountability aren’t something to applaud, especially when the president says that giving orders during the storm (a calamity, a freaking emergency, may we remind) would be “stupidity” and proceeds to call people out for daring to take the initiative to help and rescue distressed residents, scorning such acts as “grandstanding” or a “spare tire” crossing the line.
Just a thought, but what if people suddenly realize that the spare tire should replace the flat tire so they can actually get to their destination? But hey, it was just a thought.
Read more:
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Art by Jan Cardasto
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