TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte should just face the drug allegations hurled at his son, Paolo, instead of blaming the “yellows” or the opposition, whose majority of members had already jumped ship to the administration.
This was Vice President Leni Robredo’s response to Duterte’s accusations that the “yellows,” or the Liberal Party, and opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, were behind the video linking Paolo to a drug syndicate.
READ: Trillanes, opposition behind video linking Paolo to drugs – Duterte |
Paolo Duterte: Video exposé ‘stamped with indelible Trillanes signature’
“Baka (dapat) tanungin kung sinong yellows. Kasi karamihan sa yellows kasama na nila ‘di ba?” Robredo pointed out in an interview after the launch of her “Ahon Laylayan” coalition here.
Vice President Leni Robredo —OVP PHOTO
READ: Trillanes: I wish I was part of the video exposé vs Paolo Duterte but I’m not
Robredo also cited the opposition’s lack of resources to mount “something like this.”
“Kaya nga kami nahihirapan kasi kakaunti na lang naman ‘yung natira sa partido at kayo ‘yung makakapagsabi na wala nang means para mag-mount ng something like this. Sa kampanya pa lang nga hirap na hirap na kaming umikot dahil walang resources,” she said.
“Seryoso ‘yung alegasyon… mas mabuti harapin, magkaroon ng independent na imbestigasyon. Pero hindi nakakatulong na mag-fingerpoint kung kani-kanino,” she added.
Do or dare, Paolo?
Opposition senatorial bet Gary Alejano, meanwhile, challenged anew the presidential son to show his back and dispel allegations about a tattoo he supposedly has as indication of his alleged membership to a drug syndicate.
Trillanes posed similar dare on Paolo, and now the viral video online claims that the former Davao vice mayor has a tattoo signifying his purported membership to a drug syndicate.
“Libu-libo na ang pinatay sa ilalim ng war on drugs. We demand justice. Kung totoo ang sinasabi na kayo pala ang involved sa iligal na droga sa Pilipinas, ginigisa niyo kami sa sariling mantika ng bansa na pinapatay niyo ang ordinaryong mamamayan eh kayo naman pala ang nagnenegosyo ng iligal na droga sa Pilipinas,” Alejano said.
Another opposition senatorial contender, Samira Gutoc, also belied Duterte’s claim.
“I do not, and we, in Otso, do not resort to dirty tactics… Kami nga ang biktima ng fake news eh.. ‘Pag sila naman ang ma-fake news kami ang bibigyan nila ng label at sisi,” the Marawi civic leader lamented.
“So please, sir, sagutin niyo ‘yun. Hindi ito kagagawan – wala kaming oras para gumawa ng imbento dahil busy kami sa kampanya,” she added.
READ: Video on Pulong prompts calls to reopen Senate drug probe
Opposition senatorial aspirants Chel Diokno and Romulo Macalintal are also present during the launch of Robredo’s coalition, which was attended by representatives from the urban poor, women, persons with disability, workers, youth, and other marginalized sectors. /kga
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