Robredo ‘completely out of touch’ with realities on the ground: Palace

FILE: Vice-President Leni Robredo (Photo: Office of the Vice President of the Philippines)

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Sunday has defended the administration against the statement of Vice President Leni Robredo that darkness is already covering the nation, saying the latter is “completely out of touch” of the realities on the ground.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that Robredo may be stating that only those discredited politicians who want to regain power would face darkness in the future.

“With all due respect to the Vice President, we find Ms. Robredo’s remarks during the anniversary of the Liberal Party completely out of touch with the existing realities on the ground,” Roque said in a statement.

“The darkness that Vice President Robredo may be referring to perhaps pertains to the future of those discredited politicians who wish to return to power,” the spokesman added.

During the 72^nd anniversary of the opposition Liberal Party on Friday, Robredo urged the members of the party to remain true and right and to not lose hope despite the “darkness” shrouding the nation.

“Many ask us if there is still hope, where we are headed. Darkness envelops us. But we should not lose hope. Our party history is about fighting,” Robredo said.

Roque disputed Robredo’s claims by citing the latest Gallup International surveys saying that the Philippines under the Duterte administration is the third happiest country in the world and the fifth highest country in terms of economic optimism index, aside from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) surveys saying 96 percent of Filipinos entered the new year with hope and fewer Filipino families considered themselves as poor.

“Consider the following: More than eight out of ten Filipinos trust the President, according to the last quarter 2017 SWS survey; President Duterte is the most approved (at 80%) and the most trusted (at 82%) among the top national officials of this country, according to the last quarter 2017 Pulse Asia survey; Satisfaction with the Duterte administration is excellent (at +70) – the highest recorded for the administration in the last 28 years, according to the last quarter 2017 SWS survey; and Net satisfaction rating of the Duterte cabinet remains the highest since 1990 at + 32, according, according to the last quarter 2017 SWS survey,” Roque said.

“People’s high levels of hope and optimism have been complemented by high satisfaction, approval, trust ratings…Genuine and meaningful change has been felt by our people,” Roque added.