Hontiveros slams Sara Duterte-Carpio after daring the solon to resign

Responding to the latest criticism against her, Hontiveros expressed gratitude to the mayor for “taking the trouble” to share her views about the senator’s work on democracy and human rights. (File photo: Senator Risa Hontiveros/Facebook)

Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, February 12, fired back at Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio after the latter dared her to resign from her post instead of Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta.

Responding to the latest criticism against her, Hontiveros expressed gratitude to the mayor for “taking the trouble” to share her views about the senator’s work on democracy and human rights.

“Every time she attacks me, she validates my work and vindicates my positions on important issues,” the lawmaker said.

Following the spike in measles cases in some part of the country, Hontiveros earlier called on Acosta to step down for her “lies and hysterics” on Dengvaxia issue which “contributed directly to the erosion of public trust” in the government’s vaccination programs.

Duterte-Carpio, however, came to the defense of Acosta, saying that the lawmaker should be the one to resign because she ‘cannot say anything right’ through an Instagram post.

“PAO Chief Acosta is doing her job in assisting indigent litigants who want to sue,” she told Hontiveros, adding that it is not Acosta who “eroded” the parents’ confidence in vaccines but it is the Denngvaxia itself.

“Devangxia (sic) killed innocent individuals, bakit wala ka[ng] human rights angle dito (Why you do not have a human rights angle here)?” Duterte-Carpio asked.

Hontiveros then added “Every insult from the Mayor is a reading on the barometer I can use, second to none, to confirm how effective my office is in advancing democratic interests and goals. Sa bawat banat niya, nalalaman natin na tama ang ating ginagawa (In each of her criticisms, we get to know that what we are doing is right).”

Duterte-Carpio, in her tirade on Monday, said making Acosta resign from her post won’t solve the measles outbreak in the country. She then urged Hontiveros to think of a better solution to the problem instead of just voicing her opposition.

The senator, however, said urging Acosta to resign is part of her solution.

“Acosta’s resignation would remove the pseudo-science, fear-mongering and lies that hijacked the Dengvaxia discourse. It would help ensure an impartial investigation of the issue, end speculations that the matter is being politicized and prevent further panic and fear from being inflicted on the public,” she stressed.

Hontiveros said she was saddened that the mayor called for resignation instead of those people who are “real dangers” to the nation and society.

As for the solutions, she said, one just have to look at her legislative track record.

“From the Mental Health Law, the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, the Strengthened Anti-hospital Deposit Law, the Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act, the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy law, the First 1000 Days Law up to the Positive Discipline Act, we have done the hard work,” she said.

“We have delivered. We do this even as we continue to add our voice of dissent to hold this government to account and defend democracy,” she continued.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier blamed the PAO chief’s “baseless” claims and accusations against the Department of Health (DOH) for the decline in vaccine confidence and rise in measles cases and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Acosta, however, said it was “unfair” for PAO to be blamed for the problem.