MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo should justify the need to publicize what she has discovered during her stint at the government’s anti-drug body, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Monday.
“Yan na nga. Kung gagawin ganoon lalong lalala, ang wedge lalapad. It’s her call. Kailangan justify niya rin,” Lacson said in an interview at the Senate when sought for comment on Robredo’s pronouncement.
(If that would be the case she must justify the need to reveal her findings to avoid complication and further division.)
Robredo earlier said she would soon publicize her findings from her short time as co-chair of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD).
“But sa akin I don’t think it’s still necessary. What for? Dahil binigyan ka ng katungkulan na gagampanan mo, ngayong natanggal ka, isisiwalat mo ang mga natuklasan mo?” Lacson said.
(For me, I don’t think it’s still necessary. What for? Just because you were given a responsibility, now that you have been sacked, you will publicize what you found out?)
Regardless, Lacson said the Vice President should report her findings should this help the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“Depende sa anong isisiwalat niya. If it is to destroy or impede ang anti-illegal drugs campaign, huwag naman sana,” Lacson said.
(It still depends on what she will reveal. If it is to destroy or impede the anti-illegal drugs campaign, I hope not.)
“Pero kung natuklasan niya para ma-enhance ang fight against illegal drugs, then by all means. Pero kung may nakita siyang pagkakamali that would point to several persons that could be held criminally liable, dapat noong nasa position siya,” he added.
(But if what she discovered is to enhance the fight against illegal drugs, then by all means. But if she found out mistakes that would point to several persons as criminally liable, she should have done that when was still in the position.)
President Rodrigo Duterte fired Robredo as a response to the opposition’s dare to remove Leni Robredo from her post due to lack of trust, Malacañang said.