`Robredo may jeopardize PH’
Credit to Author: Catherine S. Valente, TMT| Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2019 16:20:32 +0000
TWO weeks after appointing her as co-chairman of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), President Rodrigo Duterte lashed out at Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, calling her a “scatterbrain” with “knee-jerk” impulses, who could “jeopardize” the republic.
Duterte said he would allow Robredo to keep her post at ICAD, but her access to vital government information would be limited to a “need to know basis.”
“I cannot appoint her as a Cabinet member. If that is the way her mouth behaves, there can never be a position for her,” Duterte said in a news conference on Tuesday night.
“I cannot trust her not only because she is with the opposition. I do not trust her because I do not know her,” he added.
He noted that the actions of Robredo, including talking to certain individuals critical of his war on drugs and planning to invite human rights investigators were “not inspiring,” prompting him to decide against appointing her to the Cabinet.
“She invited even ‘yung mga (those) prosecutors ng (of the) Human Rights Commission, which we rebuked. Bakit niya papuntahin dito ‘yung prosecutors and all observers (Why would she allow those prosecutors and observers to come here)? She was grandstanding na eh. It was like a carnival up there. She was talking right and left [here],” he said.
“Presidente ka, mag-ganun ka (Are you the President for you to do that)? You will just place the Republic of the Philippines in jeopardy. Alam mo bakit (You know why)? It’s your penchant. Knee-jerk ka eh (You have knee-jerk reactions),” the President added.
Duterte also maintained that Robredo does not automatically have security clearance to obtain classified documents.
“Need to know ka lang (only),” he said. “If she asks for something, give her the half of it. If it’s classified information, there is no need for her to know.”
Duterte expressed concern that if Robredo joined the Cabinet, she might spill state secrets to other people who might use the information for politicking in the elections.
“Alam mo sabi ko election is a noble thing. But politics is always dirty, especially if you are on the other side. Huwag mo na lang akong bolahin… Kung anong mapulot mo dito balang araw (Stop pulling my leg. What information you may stumble upon, you can use it someday), two years na lang, and she wants to aspire for the presidency,” Duterte said.
“She’s with the opposition and she would be attending Cabinet meetings. In Cabinet meetings, we discuss mundane matters, we discuss day-to-day matters, we discuss security matters, we discuss critical issues. Ngayon siya kung nandiyan, hindi ko man talaga siya kilala (I do not really know her) and the way she behaved right after I appointed her does not inspire — it’s not inspiring,” he added.
Duterte said Robredo, as ICAD co-chairman, could give “directions” and “guidance” to agencies involved in the anti-drug campaign.
“Sabi ko (I said) you can give the directions, you can give the guidance. But you do not have to go there and waggle inside the law enforcement process,” he added.
Robredo accepted the ICAD post early this month, which the Palace previously said was a Cabinet-level position.
But Duterte later backtracked, clarifying that Robredo is not part of his Cabinet.
The President also threatened to remove Robredo if she shared state secrets with foreign individuals and groups.
Former president Benigno Aquino 3rd said the President’s mistrust of Robredo was confusing.
Aquino said appointment must be based on belief in the appointee’s capability and capacity to do the task and will do it well.
“Kung wala lahat ‘yun, hindi mo itatalaga. Itinalaga mo, so pwede ba ‘yung itatalaga mo na di po pagkakatiwalaan? Medyo magulo yata (If those are lacking, you will not appoint her. You appointed her, so is it possible that you appoint someone you don’t trust? That’s a bit confusing),” Aquino said.
WITH DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ