MANILA, Philippines — As President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed his distrust of Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said the Chief Executive seemed to subtly suggest that he wants her out.
For Lacson, the words of Duterte could imply that he wants her to leave but would not fire her and would just let Robredo take the hint and file her resignation.
“Obviously, the President wants her out without firing her,” Lacson said, “meaning he is leaving up to her to take the initiative and tender her resignation.”
“I’m sure the Vice President is now processing how to deal with the situation and should make her decision sooner than later. I think her position has become untenable,” he added.
During a hastily called press conference at the Palace on Tuesday night, Duterte said he could not trust Robredo, whom he earlier appointed as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
Asked whether Robredo could function effectively with the President saying he does not trust her, Lacson said: “Responsibility without commensurate authority is a guaranteed formula for failure.”
“If the Chief Executive, who is also the (commander-in-chief) of all armed forces in the country, has openly declared that he doesn’t trust her, what does she expect from all 20 member-agencies under the ICAD?” he added.
The President had earlier warned Robredo that he would remove her as co-chair of the government’s anti-drug body should she reveal classified government information with foreign individuals or entities.
This after the Vice President met with US officials as well as members of a UN body for possible cooperation on the country’s fight against illegal drugs.
Duterte appointed Robredo as ICAD co-chair on October 31. Robredo accepted the appointment on November 6. Soon after, she asked for a copy of the list of high-value drug targets, but the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) were apprehensive about granting her request.
PDEA and DILG are among the member-agencies of ICAD. The PDEA chief is a co-chair of ICAD.
Edited by KGA