Two members of the opposition responded to President Duterte’s recent criticisms against Vice President Robredo.

Defeated senatorial candidate and former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay challenged President Rodrigo Duterte to resign instead of offering Vice President Leni Robredo of handling the law enforcement for six months.

In a tweet, Hilbay said that it’s better for the President to try resigning so Robredo could prove herself that her style is better when it comes to enforcing the law.

“Why not just surrender the presidency by resigning? Subukan natin,” Hilbay said.

Screenshot: Pilo Hilbay Twitter page

Former Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano who’s also a defeated senatorial candidate last election also dared the President to step down to make his statement more believable.

Alejano said that the President is trying to trick the people again like his previous promises.

“Another atik-atik. Favorite number, 6 months. Papasakayin mo na naman taumbayan. If you step down maniwala pa ako,” Alejano said.

Screenshot: Gary Alejano Twitter account

The two defeated senatorial candidate made their statements against Duterte after the President offered some of his powers to Robredo.

“I will surrender my powers to enforce the law. Ibigay ko sa Vice President. Ibigay ko sa kanya mga six months. Siya ang magdala. Tingnan natin kung ano mangyari. Hindi ako makialam. Sige, gusto mo? Mas bright ka? Sige. Ikaw. Subukan mo,” Duterte said.

However, Duterte clarified that he’s not trying to silence Robredo.

“Gusto ko lang malaman kung kaya niya, marami kasi siyang sinasalita, anong pinagsasabi niya sa labas, do it here… six months, anytime, gusto niya ngayon? tawagan mo siya, I can talk to her tonight,” Duterte also said.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan challenged President Rodrigo Duterte to give Vice President Leni Robredo three years instead of six months to handle the law enforcement in the country.

In a social media post, Pangilinan believes that Robredo would end the corruption among law enforcement in the country.

He also said that the law enforcers are not going to pursue the poor people anymore.

Pangilinan pointed out that it would be unfair for Robredo to get such a very limited time to prove that her suggestions to the government are more effective than the current style of the current administration in enforcing the law.

“Bakit naman six months lang? Gawin na nilang three years at sigurado ako hindi na papalusutin ang tonetoneladang shabu sa BoC (Bureau of Customs), wala na ang araw-araw na pagtugis ng mahihirap nating mga kababayan habang mga ninja cops at sindikato ay binibigyan ng mataas na posisyon, pinalalaya dahil sa GCTA (Good Conduct TIme Allowance) o inaabswelto at sigurado na hindi na tayo walang imik at sunud-sunuran sa China,” he said on his Facebook page.

“3 years na nilang hawak ang law enforcement so dapat lang 3 years din ang ibigay na oras para fair!” he added.

Pangilinan made the said statements after the President revealed that he will inform the Vice President to handle the law enforcement in the country.

“I will surrender my powers to enforce the law. Ibigay ko sa Vice President. Ibigay ko sa kanya mga six months. Siya ang magdala. Tingnan natin kung ano mangyari. Hindi ako makialam. Sige, gusto mo? Mas bright ka? Sige. Ikaw. Subukan mo,” Duterte said.

“Gusto ko lang malaman kung kaya niya, marami kasi siyang sinasalita, anong pinagsasabi niya sa labas, do it here… six months, anytime, gusto niya ngayon? tawagan mo siya, I can talk to her tonight,” the President also said in another interview.

President Rodrigo Duterte criticized Vice President Leni Robredo for questioning the effectiveness of the current administration’s law enforcement.

In a speech on Monday, Duterte said that he would give his powers to Robredo for six months so the latter could prove that her suggestions are better than the current ways of the administration.

“I will surrender my powers to enforce the law. Ibigay ko sa Vice President. Ibigay ko sa kanya mga six months. Siya ang magdala. Tingnan natin kung ano mangyari. Hindi ako makialam. Sige, gusto mo? Mas bright ka? Sige. Ikaw. Subukan mo,” Duterte said.

He also ordered Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to send a letter to Robredo.

Duterte clarified said in another interview that he’s not telling the Vice President to stop releasing criticisms. Still, he wanted to see if Robredo is going to be successful if she’s going to handle the law enforcers in the country.

“Gusto ko lang malaman kung kaya niya, marami kasi siyang sinasalita, anong pinagsasabi niya sa labas, do it here… six months, anytime, gusto niya ngayon? tawagan mo siya, I can talk to her tonight,” said Duterte.

“I will order tomorrow everybody should follow her in the matter of drug issue, siya na,” he added.

Duterte made the statement after Robredo said that the administration should stop their failed war against drugs.

However, Robredo clarified that she’s not asking the current admin to stop their operations, but only to change its style.

“Kapag tiningnan mo, Ka Ely, iyong interview ko, iba iyong sinabi ko. Kapag tiningnan mo iyong interview ko, ang sinabi ko, dapat i-assess ng pamahalaan kung tama pa ba iyong strategy na ginagamit. Kasi kung mali na, kailangang i-tweak,” she said.

Mayor Isko Moreno’s popularity catches the attention of several brands and now they’re hiring the celebrity-turned-politician to become their endorser.

On his live Facebook video, Mayor Isko Moreno announced that he was hired as one of the models of JAG Jeans and IAM Coffee and he might appear in several advertisements in the future.

Moreno decided to give all the talent fees he received from the two brands for the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to help ailing children who cannot afford their medical expenses.

The Mayor received a talent fee of P1-M from JAG while IAM World who owns IAM Coffee gave him P3-M.

Surprisingly, one of the brands who took Isko as their endorser decided to give the same amount to PGH.

“Wag kayong magugulat kung may makita kayong mga poster o commercial… basta ang sinisigurado ko sa inyo may pupuntahan namang maayos yan,” Moreno said.

“Okay lang bakit? Basta pakikinabangan ng ibang tao lalo na yung mga sakit,” he added.

Moreno also showed a cheque worth P1.5 that he immediately sent to PGH.

He also urged the netizens to donate to PGH saying that even a small amount could help the patients of the said hospital.

“Kung kayo ay tutulong, maraming paraan ng pagtulong, wag kayong mahihiya, pwedeng piso, pwedeng isang daan, pwedeng isang libo, lahat pwede,” he said.

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno led the opening of the largest free dialysis center in the Philippines, and possibly also in the entire Asia-Pacific region on Thursday, his exact birthday.

The Flora Valisno Siojo Dialysis Center was named before the grandmother of former Mayor Alfredo Lim who’s also present during the said event.

Moreno said that they decided to name the dialysis center before Lim’s grandmother because he wanted the people of Manila to remember their former Mayor who handled the city for 12 years.

 ‘Isa itong maliit na pagkilala sa 12 taong serbisyo ni Mayor Lim sa Maynila. Makikilala ngayon itong ‘Siojo Dialysis Center’ bilang pinakamalaki sa Pilipinas.’ Moreno said.

According to Moreno, there will be more than 100 dialysis machines in the said building, bigger than the National Kidney Institute.

He also said that they would prioritize poor people to use the dialysis machines for free which normally cost around P4,000 to P2,000 per session.

Meanwhile, Lim was full of gratitude to Moreno’s decision saying that the latter can be a good President in the future.

“Tiyak na tiyak, magiging Pangulo (siya), dahil sa ngayon wala naman tayong nakikita na maaring maging Pangulo ng bansa, sa ngayon… ewan ko yung iba, baka hindi pa pinapanganak, sigurado na si President Isko ang magiging Pangulo natin,” he said.

“Pero ang masakit non, baka nasa sementeryo na ako non, hindi na ko pwedeng pumalakpak, pero alam niya na pinagdarasal ko ang kanyang tagumpay,” he added.

Mayor Isko only smiled while listening to Lim’s praises.

A netizen who saw the photo of the President who is suffering in back pain during his trip to Japan wrote an open letter to the critics of the current administration.

On Wednesday, October 23, netizen Noel Landiro Sarifa made a lengthy post, pointed out that the photo posted by some media outlets showing how uncomfortable the President is during his visit in Japan only indicates that the chief executive still wanted to continue his job despite his condition.

According to him, instead of making fun of the President, they should help the leader of the country to achieve his goals.

“Sa mga Kritiko ni Duterte, Look At our President! He is Old, He is in Pain but he never stops in serving his people.” Sarifa said.

“All I ask from you is to help us build a nation. see the goodness in him, see the purpose of what he does, not just on what wrong you think he is doing. Ilang dekada na akong nabubuhay bilang Pilipino pero ngaun lang tayo nagkaroon ng Presidente na puro trabaho. Let us take advantage of these times, imbes na batuhin, tawanan, kutyain at puro na lang kontra.” he added.

He also said that instead of complaining, people should ask themselves how they can contribute to the country and show to the world how the Filipinos unite for the sake of the country.

“He is doing this for us, ako, tayo, kasama ka. Sana lang imbes na magreklamo, itanong mo na lang sa sarili mo, ” Ano ba ang maitutulong ko?” at sa kaunting paraan na alam mo tumulong tayo. This is the time na ipakita natin sa mundo na kaya nating magka-isa para sa bayan. Hindi dahil sa political preference natin. This is the time na magkapit bisig tayo para ibangon ang Pilipinas. Let us be proud pinoy, sa salita, sa isip at sa gawa.” Sarifa said.

“Let this be a wake-up call to us all Filipinos before it’s too damn late. Building a nation is a NOT A ONE MAN JOB, IT IS OUR JOB!” he added.

As of writing the post of Sarifa already reached 30,000 shares on social media.

Sarifa is one of the netizens who defended the President after the latter cut short his trip to Japan to see a neurologist after suffering from “unbearable” back pain.

According to Malacanang, the condition of the President is connected to his recent motorcycle fall.

The President was also seen using a cane during his trip to Japan a sign that he’s having a hard time to walk.