Vice President Leni Robredo visited Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in his office at the Senate building on Thursday to show support for the senator as he faces an arrest order that she described as a “clear harassment.”
Robredo said she had a speaking engagement in an event near the Senate so she opted to drop by to visit Trillanes, who has been staying at his office since Tuesday.
“Naisip ko na malapit na din, makausap ko [na] rin si Senator Trillanes para maabutan ng suporta,” she said in an ambush interview.
(I thought it was near, I can also speak with Senator Trillanes to extend support.)
Robredo also slammed President Rodrigo Duterte who ordered the arrest of Trillanes after he directed the revocation of his amnesty.
“Sa atin ay malinaw na panghaharass ito (To us, this is a clear harassment), she said.
“Malinaw ang dahilan kung bakit ito ginagawa at mariin nating tinututulan ang ganitong paraan, ‘yung paggamit ng kapangyarihan para patahimikin ‘yung may hindi kaparehong paniniwala,” she also said.
(The reason why this is being done is clear, and we are against this manner of exploiting power to silence those with opposing views.)
Robredo said that any move of the government to misuse its power is always “too much.”
“Dapat ang pamahalaan ginagamit nya ang kapangyarihan niya para magdala ng kabutihan,” she said, citing other pressing concerns in the country including rise in prices of rice.
(The government should use its power to bring good.)
Robredo also said that Duterte’s arrest order is “alarming” not just to Trillanes but to others who criticize his leadership. /jpv
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