MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has downplayed allegations that the Liberal Party (LP) is behind the narcolist series pointing to President Rodrigo Duterte’s close allies and relatives as those involved in the drug trade.
“Kasi ako, sigurado ako, hindi kami. Ako nga, hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa nakikita iyong lahat na videos,” Robredo told reporters in an ambush interview in Romblon Friday.
(I’m sure that we are not behind it. Until now, I haven’t watched all the videos.)
The Vice President lamented that the administration attributes every negative thing to LP and its supporters — called ‘dilawan’ (yellows) for their use the yellow color as a motif.
“From Day 1 — 2016 — every time may negative na sasabihin sa pamahalaan, para kaming whipping boy… parang whipping boy iyong mga dilawan,” she claimed.
(From Day 1 in 2016, we have been the administration’s whipping boy every time the government will announce negative things.)
A week ago, a video entitled “Ang Totoong Narcolist” aimed at countering Duterte’s version of the narcolist went viral in social media. In the six-minute clip, a certain “Bikoy” accused Duterte’s son, former Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte of involvement in the drug trade, using the codename “Polong Delta”.
READ: Duterte exposes 46 ‘narco politicians’
As of posting, three episodes have been published online, implicating relatives of Duterte’s in-law with daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, his daughter Veronica Duterte, and former presidential aide and senatorial candidate Bong Go.
Paolo and Go have denied the accusations, with Go vouching for Duterte’s youngest daughter.
READ: Video linking Polong Duterte to drugs ‘black propaganda’
READ: Eat your words, ‘Bikoy:’ Bong Go flashes ‘clean back’
The President, his supporters, and officials from Malacañang have dismissed the move as mere black propaganda, blaming the opposition for the video’s proliferation.
READ: Locsin says no to Paolo Duterte showing his tattoo: ‘Manigas na silang lahat’
READ: Trillanes, opposition behind video linking Paolo to drugs – Duterte
However, Robredo fired back at critics, asking whether those pointing to the ‘dilawans’ as the persons behind the videos were referring to the current crop of LP politicians or the former members who jump shipped to the ruling party, Duterte’s PDP-Laban.
“Medyo nakakatawang kaunti kasi alam naman natin na after the presidential elections, nagkaroon ng exodus. Iyong mga kasama namin, halos lahat, kaunting-kaunti na lang iyong natitira, nasa administration party na,” Robredo said.
(It is quite funny that few remember that after the presidential elections, there was an exodus. Our party members have flocked to the administration party. Few of us remained.)
“So kapag sinasabing iyong dilawan iyong behind this, sino (So when they say the ‘yellows’ are behind this, who are they referring to)?” she asked. /ee