VP Leni declines to respond to Duterte challenge

ILOILO CITY –– Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday declined to respond to President Duterte’s declaration that he will give her his law enforcement powers for six months and lead the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

“As of now, ayaw ko siyang sagutin kasi tingin ko yung mga malalaking problema natin, hindi naman pwedeng idaan sa init ng ulo, hindi pwedeng idaan sa pagkapikon, hindi pwedeng idaan sa pang-iinsulto.

(As of now, I don’t want to respond because the country’s main problems cannot be solved by anger, insult or being piqued),” Robredo told reporters here at the sidelines of the Ahon Laylayan Coalition assembly at Assumption Iloilo school.

“Our problems are serious and we need the anger to simmer down. Words may have been said which may not have been meant. I don’t want to add to the problem),” she said in Filipino.

She said she did not want to speculate on the motives of the President.

“I have never responded to insults, statements borne out of anger and due to being piqued. I will wait for the situation to settle down so I will know what he wants to happen),” the Vice President added. /lzb