Robredo: Duterte best to allay virus fears

Vice President Leni Robredo believes President Rodrigo Duterte is the best person to address the public's fear regarding the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Robredo stated that Duterte's popularity could help assure Filipinos that the government is managing the situation effectively.

She emphasized the need for the President to communicate the government's actual steps and its message on handling the health crisis.

The Vice President also pointed out that differing messages from officials, citing Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo’s remark on mask supply, can cause confusion and panic.

Robredo suggested that officials should instead emphasize efforts to make masks available in the market.

While she welcomed the expansion of the temporary travel ban to include mainland China, Macau, and Hong Kong, Robredo expressed that the ban should have been implemented sooner, noting other countries reacted more swiftly.

She clarified that the temporary suspension aims to contain the virus spread and is not discriminatory.