Vice President and presidential candidate Leni Robredo said Sunday the Office of the Vice President had temporarily stopped its COVID-19 initiatives until such time that the Commission on Elections had come up with a decision whether to allow the pandemic response to continue during the campaign period.
In her weekly BISErbisyong LENI radio program, Robredo said they could not go on with their COVID-19 programs, including Bayanihan E-Consulta, vaccine express swab cab, and other medical assistance projects.
“We have suspended it (COVID-19 response) because we are awaiting the Comelec’s decision. We are seeking the exemption ban for three of our programs. These are the Bayanihan E-Consulta, vaccine express and swab cab,” she said.
The Vice President has filed a petition with Comelec to allow the OVP, not her, to continue the COVID-19 pandemic response at the start of campaign period on Feb. 8.
She vowed to isolate the programs from the issue of politics, saying she would abstain from showing up during the project implementation.
“We are asking for an exemption amid the decrease in COVID cases. We have shown the number of those requesting our help every day. Some of them have nowhere to go,” she said.
“Should Comelec deny their appeal, the OVP is left with no other option but to abide by the decision,” she added.
