BUSAN, South Korea — Malacañang has brushed aside claims President Rodrigo Duterte sacked Vice President Ma. Leonor Robredo to divert the public’s attention from the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games mess.
Over the past days, foreign and local athletes participating in the SEA Games from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 have complained about delays in accommodation and other logistical mess, which have reportedly delayed their training.
READ: PH SEA Games organizer sorry for transport, accommodation problems
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo holds a media briefing in Busan, South Korea on Sunday, November 24, 2019, after announcing that President Rodrigo Duterte has fired Vice President Leni Robredo as anti-drug war czar. Pathricia Roxas/INQUIRER.net
“You cannot discount any delays, incidents of non-transport and late checking in, given the fact that there are many athletes coming to the Philippines. Natural lang ‘yun (It’s just natural),” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a press conference here.
The Palace mouthpiece claimed Robredo’s dismissal was due to her “failure” to present before Duterte clear plans and programs to combat the illegal drug trade in the country. Robredo, however, said she already submitted two reports to the President while a third report was underway,
Panelo admitted Duterte has yet to read the reports and recommendations before firing Robredo.
He also said Duterte had denied apologizing to the Vice President for believing a “fake news” that she had invited a UN prosecutor to probe the drug war.
Panelo quoted Duterte as saying: “I’m not apologizing, I’m firing her.”
READ: BREAKING: Duterte fires Robredo from ICAD
Duterte’s chief legal counsel also denied the President was just offended by Robredo’s moves as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs.