Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Gabriel Bordado Jr. said that he has received negative responses from some Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives in Naga City after the President Rodrigo Duterte called it a “hotbed of shabu.”
“May nakuha kaming feedbacks kahapon just after the interview with the President na medyo sumama ang loob ng mga PDEA groups, particularly sa Naga, dahil they have been doing their jobs,” Bordado said during the press briefing on Wednesday.
“Ginagawa nila ang lahat, in coordination with the local government units, with the other agencies, to ensure na dapat walang shabu, walang illegal drugs sa Naga,” he added.
On Tuesday, President Duterte expressed his intention to step down from office, as he is getting tired of going after corrupt officials in the government.
However, he said that he prefers a military junta, or former Senator Bongbong Marcos and Senator Chiz Escudero to succeed him, and not Vice President Leni Robredo.
Duterte implied that although Robredo is a lawyer, she is unfit for the presidency as she was not able to solve the drug problem of Naga City, which according to him was a hotbed of shabu.
“I have nothing against Robredo. She’s a lawyer, you’ve heard her talk. But I do not think she can improve on anything here. Of course, she will deny it. You can ask the hotbed of shabu,” the President said.
“In the past years, I will not mention the name. It was Naga City. It was in Naga City,” he added. “So I said, I won’t suggest to the military.”
READ: Duterte: ‘I’m thinking of stepping down
READ: Duterte rejects Robredo as his successor, says Naga a hotbed of shabu
But at the House of Representatives, the President’s critics were skeptical.
“Una, may naniniwala pa ba sa kanya? Pangalawa, hindi niya kailanman gagawin ‘yon kasi the moment na mag-step down siya, mawawala ‘yong presidential immunity from suits,” ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said on Wednesday.
“We don’t think that he is serious about that, mukhang huntahan lang naman ’yon hindi (military) junta talaga,” Caloocan Representative Egay Erice added.