“Where were you when the people needed you?’’, says young lawmakers to VP Duterte

In the House of Representatives, young lawmakers objected on Sunday to Vice President Sara Duterte’s allegations that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. neglected to provide funding for flood control projects in Davao City. They cited online comments labeling Duterte as #LakwatSara regarding her trip to Germany during Super Typhoon Carina’s devastating effects on the nation.

Duterte’s tirades against Mr. Marcos were criticized by Assistant Majority Leaders Jefferson Khonghun and Francisco Paolo Ortega V, who said that she was the one who vanished when the Filipino people needed assistance. 

During Carina’s surge, netizens dubbed the Vice President as “#LakwatSara,” as Khonghun, the Zambales delegate, pointed out. “Wasn’t that the height of negligence?The lawmaker brought up Duterte’s visit to Germany right before the typhoon.

“You’re the second highest official of the land you would play truant at the height of torrential rains and typhoon? You’re still not back in the country and all you do is complain,” he added. 

Khonghun stated, “Anybody who hears her criticisms against the President can only just say ‘Look who’s talking’. Where were you when the people needed you? Marked safe from Carina being in Germany, sana all talaga.” 

He also noted that the former President Rodrigo Duterte had six years to finance the flood control work across the country, including in Davao City. 

“Former President Duterte also had six years to accomplish this, but we don’t hear the Vice President saying anything about her father’s failure,” Khonghun said.

On the other hand, Ortega, the La Union delegate, said that there is a “disconnect that merits scrutiny” in the timing and content of Duterte’s comments given her journey during a state of emergency.

 

Photo courtesy: One News PH