Robredo hits Duterte: Focus on country’s problems instead

FILE: Vice President Leni Robredo pays courtesy call on President Rodrigo R. Duterte at the Malacañan Palace, afternoon of July 4, 2016. (KING RODRIGUEZ/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Rodrigo Duterte should focus his attention on addressing the country’s problems that make life difficult for Filipinos instead of throwing rants against her, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo said.

Robredo was responding to Duterte’s latest tirade against her that the country would be better off in the hands of a dictator like the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

The President earlier said he would prefer the son of the late dictator, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero to succeed him if he resigns.

“Instead of continuing to glorify a dictator who stole billions from our country, drove the nation into debt, and presided over the murder and imprisonment of thousands of Filipinos, he can work on truly unifying the nation, and assuring our people, especially those at the fringes, that their voice are being heard and that their daily suffering will soon be eased,” Robredo said on Friday, August 31.

The Vice President said Duterte should divert his attention on coming up with coherent solutions to the pressing matters that the country is facing  – such as the soaring prices of rice and other basic commodities — and not on stepping up his attack on her capability to run a country.

“The allegations made by the President are recycled rants conveniently used to deflect attention from the failures of his administration,” she stressed.

“While he may be intending to flatter me by keeping me at the top of his mind these days when he stands behind the seal of his office, I’d still prefer that he focus on the many important matters that he needs to address — as rising prices continue to make life difficult for our fellow Filipinos, especially for those in need,” she continued.

Despite these problems, Robredo said the anti-illegal drugs campaign still remains to be on the top of Duterte’s agenda so much that he is now “pinning blame on a blind man,” referring to Butch Robredo, brother of late her late husband Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo.

“Perhaps instead of constantly repeating this ridiculous allegation, and throwing mud on the name of a city that thrives on good governance — and that staunchly supports the call to fight illegal drugs—he can turn his attention to the P6.8-billion shabu shipment that slipped past his Customs officials, and not just shrug off the insistent report of his own PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) chief regarding the magnetic lifters found in Cavite,” the Vice President said.

Duterte, on his speech 49th Charter Day celebration at Mandaue City, Cebu on Thursday, stood by his earlier remark that Naga City is the “hotbed of shabu.”

“I stand by my word that Naga is the hotbed of shabu. ‘Yung brother-in-law niya yung nagdala ng drugs doon sa Bicol. Totoo ‘yan (Robredo’s brother-in-law brought the drugs in Bicol. It is true),” the President said.

Robredo earlier denied this allegation, saying it was a “huge insult” to the people of Naga and a “big slap” on the face of not just its local government officials but also to everyone who is working hard to improve the city.

The Naga City Council also condemned Duterte’s statement in a resolution.