Duterte fires PACC's Luna over calls for NBI to probe Robredo
Published Apr 3, 2020 12:00 am
By Argyll Geducos
President Duterte has fired Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Manuelito Luna for wanting Vice President Leni Robredo to be probed for asking the private sector to help frontliners amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Duterte made the statement after Luna called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe Robredo for supposedly competing with the government in its efforts to combat the deadly disease.
In a public address late Friday night, Duterte said he fired Luna after hearing the reports, saying Robredo did nothing wrong when she asked for donations to help health workers.
"May tao ako na abogado sa (There is this lawyer in the) PACC, Commissioner Manuelito Luna, gusto niya na ipa-imbestiga si Leni kung bakit nag-solicit. Anak ng--- (He wants Robredo investigated for solicitations. Son of a---)," he said.
"Kaya nung narinig ko sinabi ko (That's why when I heard it, I said), 'Fire him.' As of this moment, he is no longer connected with government," he added.
The President even warned the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that they will likewise be dismissed if they will launch an investigation on Robredo.
"'Tsaka yung NBI mag-imbestiga niyan, pati kayo isali ko sa dismissal. 'Wag... Ignorante kayo," he said.
(And the NBI, if you start an investigation, you'll be dismissed, too. Don't... You'll look ignorant.)
Duterte admitted that there were times when he criticized Robredo in public, and sometimes used harsh language, but said the Vice President did nothing wrong this time around.
"Ako, panahon ng i-criticize ko si Leni (I once criticized her), sometimes the language that I use is very... Pero itong panahon na ito na wala namang kasalanan ang Vice President, nag-ano nga na mag-tulong, bakit ipa-imbestiga?" he said.
(But this time, the Vice President did nothing wrong. She is even helping. Why should she be investigated)?" he said.
On Wednesday, Luna said the Office of the Vice President's free shuttle service, dormitory for health workers, and donations of personal protective equipment (PPEs) were aimed to "compete with" or "calculated to undermine" the government's response to COVID-19.
However, he said, it was up to the NBI if they will heed his call or not.
"This is just a request made for possible violations of law. The NBI may find it meritorious or not. It depends on them eh because it’s just a request on my part in my personal and private capacity," he said.
"She’s doing on her own and yet we are accusing or alleging that there are local officials also violating. So what’s the difference? Because she is part of the national government, she cannot compete. Much less try to undermine the efforts of the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), OCD (Office of Civil Defense), NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council), and the Task Force specially and the DOH (Department of Health)," he added.
PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica immediately refuted Luna's statement, saying the former commissioner was acting on his own. He even thanked Robredo for stepping up and helping frontliners.
"Magtulungan po tayo. Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng tumutulong, pati ang hindi lumalabas ng bahay. Tayo po ay nakakatulong sa ating pagsunod," he said. (Let's help one another. Thanks to those who are helping, also those who are staying at home. When we comply, we are helping.)
"Wala pong kulay, wala pong politika ngayon. Magkakasama po tayo bilang Pilipino sa labang ito." (There's no color nor politics right now. We are together as Filipinos in this fight.)
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7t3l54
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Duterte made the statement after Luna called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe Robredo for supposedly competing with the government in its efforts to combat the deadly disease.
In a public address late Friday night, Duterte said he fired Luna after hearing the reports, saying Robredo did nothing wrong when she asked for donations to help health workers.
"May tao ako na abogado sa (There is this lawyer in the) PACC, Commissioner Manuelito Luna, gusto niya na ipa-imbestiga si Leni kung bakit nag-solicit. Anak ng--- (He wants Robredo investigated for solicitations. Son of a---)," he said.
"Kaya nung narinig ko sinabi ko (That's why when I heard it, I said), 'Fire him.' As of this moment, he is no longer connected with government," he added.
The President even warned the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that they will likewise be dismissed if they will launch an investigation on Robredo.
"'Tsaka yung NBI mag-imbestiga niyan, pati kayo isali ko sa dismissal. 'Wag... Ignorante kayo," he said.
(And the NBI, if you start an investigation, you'll be dismissed, too. Don't... You'll look ignorant.)
Duterte admitted that there were times when he criticized Robredo in public, and sometimes used harsh language, but said the Vice President did nothing wrong this time around.
"Ako, panahon ng i-criticize ko si Leni (I once criticized her), sometimes the language that I use is very... Pero itong panahon na ito na wala namang kasalanan ang Vice President, nag-ano nga na mag-tulong, bakit ipa-imbestiga?" he said.
(But this time, the Vice President did nothing wrong. She is even helping. Why should she be investigated)?" he said.
On Wednesday, Luna said the Office of the Vice President's free shuttle service, dormitory for health workers, and donations of personal protective equipment (PPEs) were aimed to "compete with" or "calculated to undermine" the government's response to COVID-19.
However, he said, it was up to the NBI if they will heed his call or not.
"This is just a request made for possible violations of law. The NBI may find it meritorious or not. It depends on them eh because it’s just a request on my part in my personal and private capacity," he said.
"She’s doing on her own and yet we are accusing or alleging that there are local officials also violating. So what’s the difference? Because she is part of the national government, she cannot compete. Much less try to undermine the efforts of the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), OCD (Office of Civil Defense), NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council), and the Task Force specially and the DOH (Department of Health)," he added.
PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica immediately refuted Luna's statement, saying the former commissioner was acting on his own. He even thanked Robredo for stepping up and helping frontliners.
"Magtulungan po tayo. Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng tumutulong, pati ang hindi lumalabas ng bahay. Tayo po ay nakakatulong sa ating pagsunod," he said. (Let's help one another. Thanks to those who are helping, also those who are staying at home. When we comply, we are helping.)
"Wala pong kulay, wala pong politika ngayon. Magkakasama po tayo bilang Pilipino sa labang ito." (There's no color nor politics right now. We are together as Filipinos in this fight.)
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7t3l54