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MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte's move to fire an anti-corruption official who sought for a probe against her coronavirus pandemic relief efforts.

Duterte on Friday fired Manuelito Luna, one of the commissioners of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, after he said the Vice President should be investigated for "competing" with the national government's own relief program.

• Duterte fires PACC exec who sought probe on Robredo's coronavirus relief efforts

Robredo said the President made a "good move" even as she was surprised to hear Duterte defend her.

• Robredo office thanks Duterte for supporting relief efforts vs coronavirus

"Nagulat in a sense na for a very long time, hindi natin napapakinggan si Presidente na pinagtatanggol tayo. Natuwa dahil tingin ko, kailangan yun sa panahon ngayon na kailangan ang mensaheng magtulong-tulungan tayo," she told ANC when asked for her reaction on Duterte's decision.

"Para sa'kin, I think it was a good move. Sa'min, welcome move yun kasi ang panahon natin, extraordinary. Hindi dapat tino-tolerate 'yung individual o public official na siya pa yung nagso-sow ng division within government."

Robredo, however, said it was "untimely" for Duterte for lashing out at human rights lawyer Chel Diokno.

• Duterte blasts Diokno for allegedy encouraging people to defy lockdown

"Hindi siya napapanahon na nagbabangayan tayo. Dapat, 'yung mensahe parati, isantabi natin yung pulitika, magtulong-tulungan tayo," she said.

"Kung meron tayong di pinagkakaintindihan, kalimutan muna natin ngayon. 'Pag may ganyang bangayan, hindi siya nakakabuti. Meron tayong unknown enemy na kailangan pinagtutulungan natin gibain, tayo-tayo pa ba magaaway-away?"

Diokno, an ally of Robredo and a member of the opposition's Senate slate for the 2019 midterm elections, said he was used to Duterte's tirades and urged the President to focus on addressing the pandemic.

• Diokno says used to tirades, hopes Duterte would focus on COVID-19 crisis

Robredo said public officials have to exercise patience if they get criticized and should be open to suggestions from the public.