Robredo on Duterte, De Lima row: Let’s respect each other
Vice President Leni Robredo is calling for respect amid an emotional row between President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE / RICHARD REYES
Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday said she was saddened by the exchange of personal attacks between President Duterte and Senator Leila de Lima.
“Nakakalungkot na kailangang personalan ang laban,” said Robredo in an ambush interview in Naga City. (It saddens me that the argument has turned personal.)
“Puwede naman na nag-disagree tayo on issues pero sa diskusyon … kailangang pakinggan natin ang bawat isa. Magrespetuhan,” she added. (We can disagree on issues, but in the discussion … we need to listen to each other. Respect one another.)
READ: Duterte blasts female senator: She’s ‘immoral’, an ‘adulterer’ | De Lima bewails Duterte ‘abuse, misuse of power’
“Kaya tayo nandito para to bring out the best in people. Pag binababa natin ang discourse sa personalan, baka ang nabi-bring out natin ay ang worst in people,” she said. (We are here to bring out the best in people. If we lower the discourse to the personal, we might draw out the worst in people.)
President Duterte on Wednesday publicly lambasted De Lima in his speech before the Philippine National Police, calling the lady senator an “immoral woman” who was having an affair with her driver. He further claimed that the driver collected money from drug lords in the National Bilibid Prisons which might have funded De Lima’s senatorial campaign.
Robredo said all government officials, especially the President, should serve as an inspiration to their subordinates and the people.
“Dapat tayo, kaming lahat, si Presidente, ako, si Senator Leila, ang lahat ng government officials kailangan maging inspiring,” she said. (All of us: I, the President, Senator Leila and all government officials need to inspire.)
“Kailangang maibalik sa issue ang usapin. Hindi nakakatulong ang personalan,” she added. (We need to bring the discussion back to the issue. Personal attacks won’t help.)
Both Robredo and De Lima ran under the “Daang Matuwid” coalition of the Aquino administration-backed Liberal Party in the May elections.
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