MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Monday defended President Duterte’s decision to fire Vice President Leni Robredo as co-chairperson of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
“The appointment of the Vice President as ICAD co-chair is based on trust. Once trust is lost, the position is lost. We have a word for it in Filipino – Sayang,” Sotto said in a statement.
He said Duterte appointed Robredo to the post because “he wanted her to see the extent of the drug problem up close.”
“I’m sure he (Duterte) trusted her then but when he probably felt the job description was not being followed, he had a different opinion,” the Senate leader said.
“Parang basketball yan (It’s like a basketball), yun (the) coach has the prerogative on who to put in and who to pull out,” Sotto added.
Robredo’s appointment was prompted by her criticisms against the Duetrte administration’s war on drugs.
But exactly 18 days after her appointment, Duterte fired Robredo from her post after the opposition’s challenge to just fire the Vice President if he would just insult her.
It was Senator Francis Pangilinan who earlier suggested to just fire the Vice President if Malacanang does not trust her anyway.
GSG