By Hannah Torregoza
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on Thursday criticized anew President Rodrigo Duterte for continuously insulting Vice President Leni Robredo saying he should stop mocking the opposition leader’s capability.
Senator Leila de Lima
(REUTERS / ROMEO RANOCO / FILE PHOTO MANILA BULLETIN)
De Lima made the call a day after Robredo accepted the administration’s challenge to co-chair the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.
The detained senator said Duterte should stop hurling insults against Robredo to defend his administration’s policies that promote abuses and corruption in public service.
“Tila ayaw tantanan sa pang-iinsulto ni Duterte si VP Leni. Abogado raw na walang alam sa batas? Mahiya naman kami sa iyo, Mr. Duterte, sa pagka-humble mo tungkol sa pagkamagaling mo sa batas, (It seems Duterte won’t stop at insulting VP Leni. A lawyer who knows nothing about the law? We’re so ashamed at your humility for claiming you know the law better),” she said in her recent statement.
De Lima pointed out how Duterte has set a bad example towards the officials under him by not calling out, and worse, even tolerating, their wrongdoings and unethical practices.
“Nagawa mo pang gawing tama ang pangungurakot at pangongotong ng kapulisan para lamang idiin na mali si VP Leni na sabihing bawal tumanggap ng lagay ang mga pulis, (You had the gall to defend the corrupt acts of some policemen just to say VP Leni was wrong),” she pointed out.
Right after Robredo called on the administration to re-assess its all-out campaign against the illegal drug trade, Duterte offered her to become a “drug czar” with the Cabinet rank post as she may have a better method to solve the country’s drug menace.
However, Duterte immediately asked his supporters not to vote for Robredo if she seeks the presidency come 2022 elections because she supposedly has no knowledge about the laws in the country. (Hannah L. Torregoza)