Senator Risa Hontiveros slammed Presidential spokesman Harry Roque over his remark that Filipinos already had a long vacation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recently, President Rodrigo Duterte declared November 2, December 24, and December 31 as special working days.
Among those who call to reconsider the decision of the president is Senator Risa Hontiveros.
But in a statement, the presidential spokesperson noted that Filipinos already had a long vacation due to community restriction because of the pandemic.
In response to Harry Roque’s remark, Hontiveros stressed that it was utterly wrong to say that Filipinos have been on a vacation since there was a pandemic.
“Marami ang nawalan ng trabaho, napilitang magsara ng negosyo, mga nagkasakit at namatay dahil sa COVID-19. ‘Yan ang pinakanakakapagod at masakit na ‘bakasyon’ sa tanang buhay natin,” she said.
“Ang totoong isyu ay mawawala ang dagdag-kita ng mga manggagawa dahil sa adjusted holidays. Marami ang pinipiling pumasok pa rin sa trabaho para sa dagdag na sahod,” she added.
Meanwhile, Hontiveros urged Roque to speak with professionalism following his remark.
But the presidential spokesperson has already made a clarification about his statement.
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