President Rodrigo Duterte insisted Thursday that Naga City, the hometown of Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Leni Robredo, is a “hotbed of shabu.”
“I stand by my word that the hotbed of [shabu is Naga]. Kasi ‘yung brother-in-law niya ang nagdala ng drugs doon sa Bicol. Totoo ‘yan. Siyempre denial kayo,” Duterte said in his speech during the 49th Mandaue City Charter Day in Cebu.
READ: Duterte rejects Robredo as successor, says Naga a ‘hotbed of shabu’
The President was referring to Butch Robredo, the brother of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo who had served as Naga City mayor.
Before Duterte made the accusation against Robredo’s brother-in-law, former Naga City councilor Luis Ortega in a press conference claimed that Butch was into the illegal drugs trade.
Robredo and Naga City officials have cried foul and denied Duterte’s claims.
READ: Robredo, Naga City cry foul over ‘shabu hotbed’ tag
Robredo has said that Duterte’s accusation was a “huge insult” to her hometown Naga City.
Malacañang has said that there was no need for Duterte to show proof to the public that Naga City was a breeding ground of illegal drugs, saying the President has his own sources.
READ: No need for Duterte to prove Naga is a ’shabu hotbed’ — Palace
/kga